Topic: Autoimmune Disease Following Breast Cancer Treatment
Log in to post a replyPosts: 211
- Posted on: Mar 28, 2008 11:35 pm, edited Apr 16, 2008 11:35 PM by Sadie-Rose
Hi Everybody,
A few months ago I had a major surgery and ended up having a pulmonary embolism. I have been taking Coumadin since October. Today I had a visit with my oncologist to follow up on some tests we did a week ago to see if there was a genetic cause for the blood clots.
She did find I have a rare genetic mutation that increases my risk for blood clots. She wants to do more testing in six weeks after I have stopped taking Coumadin. She mentioned the an autoimmune disease called Lupus.
Has anyone been diagnosed with Lupus after their cancer treatment?
Warmly,
Sadie
Dx 9/2003, IDC, 3cm, Stage II, Grade 3, 1/14 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2-
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Meggy Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 37 |
Apr 16, 2008 08:03 pm
Meggy wrote:
Sadie, I don't know anything about the connection but I do want to mention that with these kind of conditions sleep is everything. Sleep sleep sleep. Low stress is also important. Do they know for sure it is lupus? I'll be thinking of you. -Meg Triple Negative IDC
Dx 1/11/2008, IDC, 2cm, Stage IIb, Grade 3, / nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2- |
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jerseymaria… Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 240 |
Apr 16, 2008 08:18 pm, edited Apr 16, 2008 08:18 PM
by jerseymaria
jerseymaria wrote:
sadie, i've had lupus for almost 18 years, many years before dx with bc in 06. there is a factor in the blood called anti-cardiolipin - i think that's the correct spelling. actually there are 3 of them. these factors can cause increased clotting or thick blood. 2 of mine are fine and 1 is moderately positive. i take baby asp. i do however have an aunt thru marriage that also has at least 1 positive anti-cardiolipin and she has been tested for lupus and other autoimmune diseases several times. always negative. i think your best bet is to see a good rheumatologist. if you can get to la there is a doctor there who is world renowned in lupus and fibromyalgia treatment and research. dr. daniel wallace. i was fortunate to have a consultation with him in 03 and he is wonderful. i personally have wondered if my bc is a result of my screwed up immune system due to lupus. i don't know the answer to that. i am quite surprised that you will be off coumadin s/p pulmonary embolism. i used to be a cardiovascular tech and the standard treatment was always at least 6 months with coumadin. good luck and please keep us posted. maria Dx 2/27/2006, 3cm, Stage IV, Grade 3, 9/27 nodes, mets, ER-/PR-, HER2+ |
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Sadie-Rose Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 211 |
Apr 17, 2008 12:03 am
Sadie-Rose wrote:
Hi Maria, Thank you so much for your post. I sure feel like a newbie exploring information about lupus. There are some signs for me that are troubling. I didn't realize that lupus and blood clotting could be connected. I know my oncologist did extensive blood work a couple of weeks ago and said she wanted to do some more testing, after I have been off of coumadin for four weeks. I have also been wondering if there is a connection between breast cancer and lupus due to problems with my immune system. After radiation treatment I was diagnosed with vitaligo, a skin condition also connected to the immune system. I wonder if you would share with me what your symptoms were when you were diagnosed and how you are doing now? I really appreciate your information. It all makes more sense now. Warmly, Sadie Dx 9/2003, IDC, 3cm, Stage II, Grade 3, 1/14 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2- |
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wishiwere Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 1461 |
Apr 17, 2008 12:09 am
wishiwere wrote:
I've read some that they notice there might be a connection with BC and another AI, thyroid problems. I was diagnosed with both last fall. My BS used to be a thyroid specialist and was not at all surprised to hear I had both. Interesting............... that AI's may be connected with Cancer. wishiwere
Dx 9/21/2007, ILC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 2, 0/4 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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Sadie-Rose Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 211 |
Apr 18, 2008 06:46 pm
Sadie-Rose wrote:
Hi Wishiwere, I think that is curious. I wonder if the long term fatigue some feel is due to an autoimmune disease. Warmly, Nancy Dx 9/2003, IDC, 3cm, Stage II, Grade 3, 1/14 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2- |
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jerseymaria… Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 240 |
Apr 18, 2008 07:15 pm
jerseymaria wrote:
nancy, the fatigue i had with lupus was so exteme i couldn't even describe it...unrelenting. of course there were various other symptoms but even now i can tell when it's acting up because of the incredible fatigue which is not relieved at all by sleeping. Dx 2/27/2006, 3cm, Stage IV, Grade 3, 9/27 nodes, mets, ER-/PR-, HER2+ |
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Sadie-Rose Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 211 |
Apr 21, 2008 10:03 pm
Sadie-Rose wrote:
Hi Jerseymaria, I am surely feeling fatigue and muscle aches. Ir is hard to wait for the testing to be done. It will be helpful to know what is going on because my mind can take me else where. Thank you for your post. Warmly, Sadie Dx 9/2003, IDC, 3cm, Stage II, Grade 3, 1/14 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2- |
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Sadie-Rose Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 211 |
May 10, 2008 05:54 pm
Sadie-Rose wrote:
Hi Everyone Reading This Thread, I've been doing some more research and there seems to be a gene that connect skin reactions like Vitiligo, Lupus, MS, and other autoimmune diseases. I still have a couple of weeks before my testing is done, but many of the systems make sense to me. It is hard to know what came first, breast cancer or the immune reactions. I was diagnosed with Vitiligo right after I finished radiation treatment. Does anyone else have information about autoimmune diseases and breast cancer? Sadie Dx 9/2003, IDC, 3cm, Stage II, Grade 3, 1/14 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2- |
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Labgal Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 236 |
May 20, 2008 05:28 pm
Labgal wrote:
I was diagnosed with non- specific autoimmune disease with positive ANA blood test titer 1:360 20 yrs ago. Any autoimmune disease is you body attacking itself for whatever unknown reason. I also have developed arthritis in the last 10 yrs which is also autoimmune, Studies have linked an increase in some cancers to autoimmune. I also had to have a hysterectomy at an early age due to severe endometrosis (sp?) which by the way is also connected to autoimmune. If you google it there are losts of stuff related to autoimmune. Makes you wonder hugh??? Cathy Abell
Dx 11/11/2004, <1cm, Stage I, Grade 3, 0/0 nodes, ER-/PR-, HER2- |