Lower immune system after radio therapy?

[Drinosaurus]

I completed 5 days (high dose, apparently equivalent to 30 days) in early November for breast cancer, no lymph node involved . Tiredness did hit later on, about a month later as they said and really quite badly. I can see that there's still been healing going on in the last couple of weeks.

I've just had the most horrific illness that progressed to extremely high temps, I can't remember ever having such high fevers, a very quickly developing chest infection. I have asthma but it's not the type to see me in hospital; this has given the lowest lung function ever and I've been quite unnerved by how ill I am. Gp sent me away with steroid and antibiotics saying my Dh had to watch for various symptoms and take me to an and e if it got worse over night. Apart from the swinging temps over night and gunk in my lungs I'm thankfully ok. Still have a mild fever.

Gp mentioned radiotherapy can impact immunity. I wasn't aware of this, and actually assumed breast probably wasn't included; I'd imagine more of it was bones etc.

Has anyone experienced this? I may need to mention it to work if I react like this to what's been a normal cold for the rest of the family as I work in a school and it's peak bug season. I've had quite a lot of time off going through treatment and am a bit anxious now going forward.

It's covid or flu isn't it? The radiotherapy won't have affected your immune system, not sure what your GP means there

I had treatment for breast cancer, chemo, radio, surgery and was told immunity would be lower for a year and for any COVID like symptoms test straightaway and get anti virals. I had one bad illness but fine since.

This is not true. A simple google search indicates that Radiotherapy does affect immunity.

Hi thanks for your replies.

Yes after seeing a different Gp again, as my chest was still bad, she said flu and a chest infection. I've needed two lots of anti biotics and steroids. I spent last week very washed out. Felt like after radiotherapy again. She also said radio affects immunity. The 5 day high dose treatment is fairly new too I believe.

I knew that chemo affected it and I'm sorry to hear you've been through so much @Penguinsa. I hope you're ok now.

Dh was quite ill with the same bug but no temperatures and he doesn't have asthma.

I do also have hypothyroidism and I'm not sure it's quite at the right level since I started tamoxifen (Gp says I now need to wait a bit longer before testing for steroid effects to clear). So there's other things going on.

My friend who is on tamoxifen says that lowers immunity. Google was not helping and indeed one study said it boosts wbc. I don't suppose anyone knows about that?

Back to nurturing my stomach bacteria and gentle exercise from tomorrow in the hope it might help! (Involving cheese of course 😀)

I feel I need to know to be mentally prepared! I'm exposed to a lot of bugs in my work and they may do the whole referral to oc health thing.

I finished treatment in August 22 and got covid in Sept 22 and had the anti-virals and they said it was for a year the lower immunity and said it was chemo and radio that qualified me. I also take Tamoxifen since Aug 22, no immunity issues from that and not told it caused them - I've actually been healthiest for a long time on them. I was warned about radio causing issues with the lungs, if your issues persist might be worth calling radio team and seeing if there's anything they can recommend. I had radio to breast and chest wall, 5 days intense which they said was 15 days equivalent. Yes would consider telling work and seeing if they can adjust. I have not had lung issues or any issues from radio. Hope you get better soon. I do swimming and take a vitamin (Wellwoman 50) which I think help though wait for illness to go first before exercise.