Post-Chemo and Indigestion, anyone?
You asked, "I am 6 years out of treatment for breast cancer. I had 8 rounds of chemo, every 2 weeks, and 33 radiation treatments; also a lumpectomy and subsequent axillary dissection. Although I still have moderate difficulty with word and name retrieval and dry mouth, my major problem is indigestion, which I never suffered prior to chemo. I take Nexium daily, but also must take Zantac occasionally for almost crippling attacks. While this is effective, I am wondering if anyone else has noticed a similar sympton. My chemo consisted of A & C and Taxol."
I completed chemo about 13 months when I began having a feeling like something was stuck in my throat, meals would regurgitate almost every day, sharp chest pain and chronic coughing. I did have a history of esophageal reflux 6 years ago but I thought it was gone. This was by far worse than any of the symptoms I had 6 years ago. This was this summer. So last month I had an endoscopy which revealed chemically induced changes to the esophagus, furrowing, they call it, so instead of the pipe being smooth it has ridges. I also have erosions in the stomach and had a benign polyp removed as well as some scarring called a Schotzkies ring. I say all of this to tell you that chemo absolutely can cause damages to the g.i. tract and you definitely should get this looked at.My doctor believes I now have Eosinophillic Esophagitis. I have another scope the end of this month. I am 46 years old. Best thing I can do right now is eat very small more frequent meals. Always preceeded by Prilosec!
I am only 5 months out of chemo, but yes, I too have had an incredible amount of pain and discomfort due to reflux and indigestion since chemo. I'm having a very hard time tolerating tamoxifen because of it. Though it's very rare that tamoxifen causes stomach issues, I had to stop for several months in order to allow my stomach and esophagus a chance to heal before restarting. I've only been back on it for three days now, and the pain has started to keep me up nights again. Zantac, Aciphex, etc aren't helping. I'm at a real loss as to what to do, as are my oncologist and gastroenterologist...
Mine is with my stomach - gut wrenching, so to speak. It got so that it went all day, but it started at night. Eventually I couldn't stand up straight and just had to stop it. By the next day I was fine. Are you on anything? I was thinking yank the ovaries, I'd then be post menopausal and could go on one of the other post breast cancer meds!
I also have lupus, so it was hard to tell if the body aches and joint pain (especially during the night) was from a lupus flare, or from the tamoxifen...
I had heartburn during chemo, and the doctor prescibed Prilosec--so that my insurance would help pay for it. At his insistence, I kept taking it for 8-10 more weeks. I am 4 months out of chemo, and only rarely have heartburn symptoms--after eating tomato sauce or fried foods for my evening meal, or too close to bedtime.
