Great thread, @arpie. Thanks for raising this issue.
@"Polly Rose", I thought of you as soon as I saw the title. So sorry to hear how things have gone for you.
My understanding is that any of the anthracycline based chemo can cause cardiomyopathy/ heart damage, as well as herceptin. Like many, I was told damage could occur, but not what to look out for. During chemo, I participated in some research that meant I had 3 echocardiograms during chemo, and another 6 months later, so whilst not officially told anything, I knew they would inform my med onc if one of them wasn't normal.
I started having shortness of breath and a rapid heart rate from my 1st chemo, with minimal activity. This continued afterwards until I was started on beta blocker medication, of which I'm now on a substantial dose, and the last time I saw my cardiologist, she felt my resting hr of 80 at the time was a high, so I get to have another echo at my next review with her. Yay
But as @"Polly Rose" has said, everyone, if you're concerned, follow up, and push for more tests if need be. I know I've had to, many times.
