Breathing difficulty after radiation for lung cancer

SBRT treatments have caused rib pain and 1 fracture. Does anyone have experience with this and, if so, does it heal?

I am getting desperate for answers.

I have tried to speak with the Radiation Oncologist as, prior to the treatments, he did say that this may happen and inferred treatable. However, I have not been able to contact him as my messages go through his physician’s assistant who insists this rib problem has a different cause and seems to be comfortable contradicting her supervising physician and an ER physician, leaving me to search for answers.

For what it’s worth I am 10 months post lobectomy, left lower lobe, and still have shortness of breath with any exertion to speak of and still have rib pain, especially on deep breathing. I’ve had clean PFTs and Chest CTs _ the only thing my pulmonologist cares about. I point out that the PFT is either sitting or standing still. and I’ve had no X-rays of my ribs. I’m going to have to start acting like a former Marine 🙂

@trfb , This sounds so painful. Radiation is great at killing cancer, but it certainly comes with its own set of side effects. I'm sorry that you haven't been offered a follow up appointment with the radiation oncologist. It seems that this would be the best solution to providing answers. Is there any way that you can get an appointment with him? Possibly reach out to your primary care provider and see if they can get an appointment request to the radiation oncologist's office. Did you have a scan that showed the broken rib? Ouch!

I do have a scan showing a fractured rib. I have tried through my primary care physician but no response. I do have an appointment with a physical therapist who specializes in oncology patients and may get some help there. No one seems to know if this will go away so I keep trying to find someone with some experience. I can feel a snap and movement in the SRBT area.

So the cancer is currently not showing on my scans and, yes, I am happy to be alive to complain, but living in constant pain diminishes the quality of my life.

Hopefully PT can answer some questions and help you through this. Quality of life is important. Don’t feel that you are complaining, you just want to feel better. That’s perfectly acceptable and understandable.

I had Radiation on left side, and yes a cracked rib which turned into a break over time. It has consequently healed but overlap-if that makes sense. When they took out 2/3 of my left lung it crack rib #5, eventually breaking when my lung. When they took out by lung, they also removed the muscle which is located between ribs. So yes it heals, but it is uncomfortable when I sit back in a chair or car.

Me too. 10 months post wedge resection. I had before and I still have shortness of breath with exertion, and it is more significant than two years ago. I think it may be caused by other issues picked up in the CT scans (pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial disease). The CT scan also picked up my fractured rib (minimum displacement). They compare CT scans and report any changes.

My surgeon attempted a talc pleuradesis via a vats surgery. In the process a rib did get broken. As someone mentioned earlier, you've lost lung function. Lung tissue does not regenerate. There is scar tissue now where the chemo and radiation destroyed the cancer.

Request that your pulmonologist does a pulmonary function test to establish a new baseline. You may qualify for pulmonary rehab. They help you strengthen the muscles that support breathing. They teach you a pursed lip breathing technique and help develop it to become automatic when you are exerting yourself.

Thank you for your information. Was the initial crack a result of the radiation? And, if I may ask, why did they remove part of your left lung?

My recent scan referred to “thickening “ as a result of the SBRT radiation. I am currently waiting to hear from the oncologist with the hope that he will better explain this and what I can do to reduce the pain.

Thank you so much for sharing.

I had cancer in my left lung as well. When they removed the left lung they didn't get a clear margin, thus the radiation. I still have cancer--small--we keep watch on , and now there is some in what's left of my right. The rib was cracked when they removed my left lung. There is muscle between the ribs, when they removed the lung, they removed the muscle and did not replace the muscle with anything, such as when they repair a hernia. When the remaining left lung started to expand, it went between ribs 5 & 7, eventually breaking the rib. The radiation did not break the rib--so I'm told--but it part of my breathing issues. If I have to have any additional radiation, I'll probably be on oxygen full time.