COPD / breathlessness after radiotherapy

Hi MissHB

Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear that you Mum had breast cancer and that she is struggling with breathlessness after her treatment. If I were you I would keep on contacting her breast care nurse until they do something about your mother’s condition. Or failing that get on to her GP and insist that they do something to help your mother.

Best of luck to you and your mother.

Best wishes

Daisy53

Hi there - thanks for replying. We’ve done both of those things. 

Breast nurse said they didn’t have any advice and to contact GP. 

Oncologist also said the same. That was 6 weeks ago. HOWEVER, she had a routine call with oncologist registrar yesterday who said ask GP for chest x ray and echocardiogram AND that she would arrange a CT scan in case of spread. 

That will be a few weeks however. Trying to get daily care for her but again there is a 6 - 8 wk wait and she is getting worse and finds doing any task impossible with breathlessness. 

Despite chasing all the time it seems all we can do is wait. 

Hi there, and sorry that your mother is having such a rough time. I can only add that if she's really breathless, then it might be worth going to A&E (on a weekday) and saying that she's struggling to catch her breath and walk. They can do scans, blood tests etc. too.

Thanks so much. That’s a good idea. Tho currently she seems too frail to face that (live in a big city, big possibility of germs - a great idea and if gets to any point that she’s in distress then obviously we’d take her. I think she’d be very reluctant to go otherwise. 

just hoping that the scan isn’t too far away and we can access help for careers soon too.

Hope you’re well. And thanks again

I know this is random but if you can afford it perhaps get a private X-ray..at least you’ll have instant response and no waiting… bless your mum, I hope this is just a horrible winter blip. Do check for covid as well.  Best wishes xx

Thanks for the advice and I’ll certainly consider it. Not Covid - have checked. 

GP wants to try another round of antibiotics before X ray but personally I just want a scan, as it’s triple negative breast cancer with supraclavicular nodes that was positive for cancer. 

The sooner we can get that done and get some care in place. We’ve already been told that the breathlessness won’t improve by the GP - but it’s getting worse. 

No oxygen therapy offered as they say that needs to be from a respiratory consultant but haven’t referred her yet. 

Hopefully the GP might move things along following my mum’s call with oncologist. Sorry for all the detail but it helps to just write it out. 

So it’s either chest infection / heart failure/ further lung damage from radiotherapy or lung / pleural mets. OR a combination of all. 

Thanks so much for replying. It all helps and will consider the private route (tho they’ve said she needs to take these antibiotics before that).

Everyone in this site has been through or are experiencing very many issues caused by cancer AND the treatment we experience. I sincerely hope your lovely mum gets the attention and action she deserves…xxxx

Hi MissHB

Completely up to you of course but why not ring the hospital and ask to be put on the waiting list for the first available cancellation.

Hope your mother gets seen soon.

Best wishes

Daisy53

Thanks. I agree. Updates: 

GP has visited her this morning and I’ve spoken to him prior to. He agrees re need for CT scan. Her SATS were ok. I’m awaiting an update from him after he’s had a meeting at the practice and then I’m calling the hospital. 

My mum won’t want me to do this, but I’m aware it’s necessary. And the GP agrees it is too. 

thanks so much for you support, understanding and suggestions. 

Glad to hear that your mother's GP visited her this morning and agreed to a need for a CT Scan and that it needs to happen quickly.

Hope everything works out ok.