About to start radiation: Did anyone have heart or lung complications?

Hi
I had my first surgery december 2023 for DCIS ER/PR + HER2 -
Stage 0 lumpectomy with sentinal node surgery feb 2024. 20 rounds of radiation in 10 days right breast. Finished treatment Apr 2 2024. Had a pulmonary function test in October.Saw my respiratory physician I have pneumonititis to my rt lung from the radiation. He said hopefully it will heal on its own.It's an inflammation.I do have Asthma and I do have an inhaler.He also advised me to take a cough syrup for the cough that has developed.

I had Stage 1 same type as you. I had 20 rounds of radiation over four weeks. Yes, my lung is damaged. I had pain in my rib cage, lungs during and immediately following radiation and the Doc said it was normal. (Normal??? No.) I ended up with acute pneumonia a couple months after radiation (developed from a cold), ended up life flighted to a hospital and intubated for 8 days. Devastated my health. My right lung will never be the same - collapsed and scarred from both the radiation and resulting infection.

Now my current battle is with Letrozole. It has been debilitating for me. The Dr just discontinued it - but the damage to my right hand with neuropathy is severe. I can barely use it - painful and swollen. Not lymphoedema. The pain in the rest of my muscles and joints was extreme. It has resolved a little sans the letrozole but the arms and hands have not.

Good luck. I wish I had researched more - most definitely would have gone with a full double mastectomy and reconstruction - not because of the chances of recurrence - but due to the side of effects of the alternative route. It's taken my health to the lowest I've ever been. I'm 62 and have a pretty grim outlook on the future.

Be careful and do not hesitate to seek treatment for the flu and colds etc.

Yes my most definitely did. 1998 she was diagnostic with inductance carcinoma insitu in her left breast. She under went lumpectomy, followed by radiation therapy. Five years and then again in 12 years she has to have numerous scents put into her coronary arteries because of scaring. 2014 after 17 years of mammogram, cardiac cath procedures, ct scans, xrays, nuclear cardiac stress tests, nuclear bone scans, you name it had them numerous times plus. She cumulated 2 Siervets of ionized radiation. Then cancer antigen test 27 29 results were up in the 40s. Her oncologist and radiologist wanted to biopsy the same area where she had the first lumpectomy. Her left breast was hard, odd shaped, and much smaller then her other breast from the radiation therapy. She had a NUCLEAR WHOLE BODY PET CT SCAN = Total body irradiation. 3 hours later she developed symptoms to wat she thought was the flu. That was Friday afternoon. She was down for the entire weekend. But come Monday am she was up and dressed. She felt fine and off to work she went. She worked mon-fri feeling just fine. Then came fri early evening around r pm she became ill. Thinking she had a relapse of the flu. By Monday am I k ew if I didnt get her to the hospital she wouldnt survive. She was that bad and then some. She has an upper gi which the Dr said she had to of the largest ulcers he ever seen her stomach. No way coud that be right. Her stomach only bothered her a lityle that weeken. Sure enough when the biopsy repairs came it showed non ulcerative tissue. Component present high in numbers. She had hpylori growing rapidly and multiplying in her stomach. She had no platelets ir very very few her rbc's, hemoglobin and lymphocytes were also low. She was given a transfusion. She waa on the verge of being septic iv antibiotics were given. She had blood clots in both legs. Her thighs showed as if shed spent a week out in sunny Arizona without any suntan lotion on them. Her hair fell out by the handfuls. She was messed up in her head. She couldn't considerate, she has problems with talking, she couldn't handle loud noises like a phone ringing etc. Her eyes looked almost like what I thought were alien like, they were black. After almost 2 weeks the Dr's weren't able to get her electrolytes to balance. Oh yeh she couldn't walk, she couldn't dress herself I had to push her around in a wheelchair. Dr's gave a poor prognosis of her surviving. They rec she be put in a nursing home and let nature do its thing. I refused to do that to my mom. I brought her home. She was almost like an infant. For two weeks all she wanted to eat were dill pickle spears. I figured what the heck her body knew what it needed.Dill.pickles are high in sodium and potassium. They also have calcium and magnesium in them. All are much needed minerals that sustain our lives. For the 9 years after that it was pure hell for my mom, and myself. Her health was effected everything from a-z and then some. I didnt know who she was her personality changed. If I said yes she said no. In 2016 an ER dr confirmed what I had know all along mom had Acute Radiation Poisoning. It wasnt easy the hospital and all of her Dr's wouldnt admit to what had happened to her and what it caused. Ive got MAJOR trust issues now. I had even contacted dept of energy trying to find help for my mom. I even recall calling Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Az. Asking them for help. Omg thats not possible they said. We'll it was and it happened to my mom. Mom passed away September 12, 2023 at 91 years old. Yeh despite the longterm effects of ionized radiation , which there's more then you can imagine. Mom made it9 years after the poisoning. I thank God for the time mom and I had together. It wasnt easy. I miss her so much. Once again thou she got screwed by the hospital and her Dr's. I told them she couldn't handle anymore radiation but they never listened. I'll end there because there maybe some justice coming her way. Its amazing how much medical professionals lie and use their patients like their guinea pigs. Like lives dont matter...good luck. In memory of my Mom, "Marjorie Ruth Rockwell" I love you and miss you, may you R.I.P. one day ill be you again. Your youngest but biggest child, spoiled rotten daughter Cynthia Jo Rockwell 02/26/2026

@cynthiarockwell1 sorry Mom I typed you as " most not mom".

@cynthiarockwell1

Hi Cynthia:

Tears filled up my eyes and my heart went out to you, my prayer went out for you upon reading your post... I am so sorry for all the sufferings that your Mom and you went through!

Thanks for sharing your experience with us! You're such a brave, wise and loving daughter that taking care of your wonderful Mom with love faithfully till the end of her journey of life! Your Mom surely would be very proud of you! For we are all touched by this & all... Pray that you gain peace and love directly from above, with the hope to be reunited with your Mom again in a better place to come!

May your loving Mom rest in peace, and a better journey ahead for all with peace, hope, and love!

I had a lumpectomy left breast followed by 20 radiation sessions. First 3 weeks were general to the breast. Last week concentrated on the tumor location using the TrueBeam machine. Before it started, I went in and a mold was made for me to lie on during radiation. To position me and to support me and keep me still. At that time they taught me to hold my breath. The longest I had to do that is for 30 seconds. Then they took images to make sure I was displacing my heart with the full lungs to keep it away from the radiation beam. My lungs too. When the radiation started, the TrueBeam moved around me. And the table I was on too. There were light lasers which watched my position. If I moved, including letting out my breath, the radiation stopped automatically. Holding my breath got easier as it went along. I was hospitalized after two sessions for a serious side effect, but the radiation continued. I had a bad day where I kept moving and had trouble holding my breath, it did stop everything. But I settled down and got through that session. I have no lung or heart complications. It's 11 months ago.

Hi Tia, I had 20 rounds of radiation on the left breast in 2023. Learn to hold your breath for 30 seconds is the key. I had no side effects and was able to continue running during the treatment. You will be ok as well. Just make sure you use prescription cream or, in my case, fresh aloe vera right after each session, probably right after in the changing room. If you use fresh aloe vera, make sure you clean it well before cutting with clean knife to avoid infection. Continue reapplying several times a day and wash it out before each treatment. Continue using it until at least 2 weeks after the treatment ends to avoid burn. You’ll be fine. Best wishes.

I used Calendula cream, liberally. Applied several times a day.

@myoga
I just want to modify the comment regarding holding your breath during treatment. TAAKE A DEEP BREATH and hold it stable for 30 seconds is the key. The purpose is to keep your heart and possibly lungs away from radiation, I think.

In spite of the deep breaths, I had lung scarring. During 20 radiation treatments , no chemo, I had a chronic cough, respiratory infection and put on antibiotics and steroids. That was March. The coughing became debilitating, choking up green mucus, sitting up in my recliner every night. Took 3 months to see a pulmonologist. CT scan showed cloudy area under radiation zone. Broncoscopy to flush and test (awful procedure! ). No infection but scarring and 3 nodules. Also had previously undiagnosed bronchiectasis (BE). Lung scarring gets worse with time and BE exacerbations don't help. My 6 month follow up shows a large hematoma formed around a surgery clip. Tomorrow's mammogram and ultrasound will be painful and possibly a Biopsy. Lucky me! Will update after results.