mary colleen Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 As previously mentioned, my husband is just about to finish up 20 WBR treatments. He is experiencing all of the normal side effects associated with that therapy. I have also noticed an intermittent dry cough for the last 10 days or so. Yesterday, he mentioned that he has had worse than normal shortness of breath for the last couple of weeks. I am wondering if anyone out there with WBR experience has seen/had side effects like this with the WBR treatment? I know that these symptoms are more logically local to the chest, but thought I'd ask since he is in treatment. He has also been decreasingly physically active over the 4 weeks of WBR - wondering if that could be causing him to have more SOB on mild exertion. Thanks all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hockeyma Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 Gerald didn't experience shortness of breath with whole brain radiation - he already had the shortness prior. I can't speak for everyone though. If there are sudden spurts of shortness of breath or your husband is anxious at all please do not cancel out anxiety as being a cause. Gerald would get short of breath and anxious about being short of breath or visa/versa and he would take under the tongue ativan to relax himself and his breathing. It usually did the trick. Best of luck and thinking of you guys lots, Heather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 My dad just finished WBR. He hasn't had any real SOB problems but he has had a persistent dry cough that lasted and maybe got a bit worse during WBR. So far, our Dr. and pulmologist have not been able to pinpoint the cause (i.e. chest infection? acid reflux? tumor related?) of the cough nor prescribe medicine that has supressed or calmed it down (Robitussin, Cherratussin, Hydrocodone, antibiotic and now an acide reflux pill). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raneyf Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 Hi Mary Colleen, I've recently had SOB with slight cough and wheeze. No WBR, though. First, they checked the cancer - it was stable to smaller, so that's not the reason. Then they checked for Pulmonary Embolism, but that was clear. They also checked the placement of my port-a-cath to make sure it hadn't migrated. Then they did and echocardiogram to look for fluid around my heart, but that was clear too. They were starting to chalk it up to anxiety, but then noticed I was wheezing a bit. Now they think it is asthma induced by the chemo, which can show up several months after you're finished with treatment. They're treating me with Advair. Since this just happened to me, thought I'd give you some ideas of what they might check for. Good luck - hope he feels better soon. Raney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 raney, has the advair given you any relief yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raneyf Posted June 19, 2007 Share Posted June 19, 2007 Yes, I'm much better for the most part. A few episodes where I feel like I need to yawn per day, and maybe 5 coughs per day is where I'm at now. I started the Advair Sunday AM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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