Breast Cancer and Ulcerative Colitis

Hi Bex,

I have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and I have had UC for nearly 17 years. I have to start chemo first and then surgery. I did ask oncologist about UC and chemo and they believe chemo should relieve the UC symptoms. I am only taking ASACOL tablets. I am alo concerned what effect treatment will have on me. Have you started your treatment?

Hi  i have diverticula disease with some colitis and had mx also finished chemo. 

When my onco heard I had IBD she immediatly changed my plan and dropped docetaxel as this could cause bowel problems . I was on Octasa 

so she liaised with my bowel surgeon (I've had resection ..no bag ) and I came off octasa . Consequently I didn't get loose movements like others or even much constipation . I was more normal than I had been for years  .

A year after chemo finished I have not gone back on octasa just finished a year of  herceptin so will wait and see what happens next but at the moment chemo has possible good effect on my bowel

So this was me but we're all different and so is our treatment ..talk it over with your onco and if you have got a colitis consultant ask for them to liaise to work out what is best for you .

Hi Raf

I am also newly diagnosed and had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy on 12th January. This showed that there is no cancer spread but the tumour was a grade 3 and is ER+, so they have sent it for an Oncotype test, so I'm still waiting to hear what treatment plan is advised. It may be any combination of chemo, radiotherapy and oestrogen-blockers.

I am on biologics for my UC and the doctor who diagnosed me said she is concerned about whether they may be promoting cancer growth and has sent a letter to my gastro team about it. The gastro team appears to be ignoring it, but they are not the best at communicating (horrendously busy I think).

I do also take Mezavant which is the same drug as Asacol.

Really hope your chemo helps both your diseases. It's good to think it might!

Xx

Hi Margaret

Thanks for the reply. I don't yet know if I will have to have chemo, but good to know that about Docetaxel in case they don't pick it up.

I take Mezavant which is the same drug as Octasa, but it is the biologics which the cancer team are concerned about. The cancer team have tried to liaise with my gastro consultant but don't seem to be getting a response, so the cancer team have asked me to step in.

It is so heartening to hear that the chemo actually helped with your UC! Good news has been thin on the ground lately and I've only been looking at this from the negative perspectives of trying to coordinate my biologics treatment with whatever cancer treatment I will need and worrying about drug interactions and also about whether I should have the J pouch surgery if the biologics give me cancer and generally feeling a bit overwhelmed, so that feels so positive.

Really hope you continue to be well, 

Love Bex xx