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A MyBCTeam Member asked a question 💭
Sacramento Area, CA

I currently have 6 rounds left of chemo! I am on Taxol and I used to have a great resting heart rate of 74 and now my resting heart rate is 90-100. I constantly get out of breath when getting up or
Moving around. When I’m out of breath it makes me cough. Anyone experience anything similar, does it go away when chemo is finally done? I just feel like all this chemo is damaging body I want to be back to “normal”.

April 28, 2025
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A MyBCTeam Member

Chemo for sure does affect the heart and if you’re having symptoms, it’s absolutely necessary to get checked it out by a cardiologist. There are levels of weakening of the heart above which they have to stop or pause your treatment. Do not take it lightly because in some cases you could have permanent heart damage.

April 29, 2025
A MyBCTeam Member

Leesa, for someone going through chemo, your counts are ok.
Be sure to discuss this with your doctor. Some shortness of breath with activity is ok, but not at rest. And not sure about that cough.
Hoping this improves for you!

April 29, 2025
A MyBCTeam Member

How are your blood counts, hemoglobin and hematocrit? Anemia is a very common side effect of chemotherapy. Symptoms of anemia are shortness of breath and increased heart rate.
Wishing you well!

April 29, 2025
A MyBCTeam Member

Thank you Barbara this is all helpful!!!

April 28, 2025
A MyBCTeam Member

After lumpectomy I had a CT scan a few months after and it was reported Bandlike scar/atelectasis in the lung bases. All my scans prior to surgery never mentioned this so after researching it I found ' bandlike scars/atelectasis (lung collapse) in the lung bases can be caused by anesthesia, especially during surgery. A common mechanism is that anesthesia can change breathing patterns, affecting lung gas exchange and potentially leading to alveolar collapse.

When I mentioned it in a passing comment to my doctor, she looked at me like I was saying something foreign.

April 28, 2025

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