Forum Discussion
Cardiomyopathy and chemo ...... a serious condition to be aware of
I do NOT want to scare anyone - but this is a very real condition that may affect some who've been thru chemo - and is something to be aware of, particularly if you start getting a dry hacking cough or chest pain. It usually affects 'older' people .... but everyone just needs to be aware.
My friend couldn't recall what chemo regime she'd been on .... so it may NOT relate to all chemo regimes - and it took some years before she was aware she had a problem.
I had my hair cut yesterday - no big deal - my hair dresser (who was diagnosed with BC over 5 years ago and was running the Look good, feel better program) was really surprised when I told her earlier in the year that I had 'Joined the Club' .....she said 'Golf Club?' So she was gobsmacked when I said, 'No, the Breast Cancer Club'. Since then, we'd chat every time I went in for a cut ......
Yesterday, she stunned me when she said that she had had a heart attack & been in ICU for a number of days & in hospital for another week or more - and that it was the BC chemo that had caused it! She has about 20% of the 'pumping side' of her heart that has basically died (pushing her blood out of her heart - so a very reduced flow) - and there is no cure - just a heart transplant if it gets 'bad enough'. She had a massive amount of fluid in her lungs that needed to be drained - which caused pain with every breath. She has to weigh herself regularly now - as increased weight can indicate the fluid buildup in her lungs again.
She also developed a really dry hacking cough. She was incredibly uncomfortable sleeping at night - even sleeping sitting up supported by pillows didn't help ... and was having strong chest pains. She presented to Emergency at Taree Hospital & after a couple of days there was sent to John Hunter Hospital at Newcastle, where further tests confirmed 'Non Systemic Cardiomyopathy'.
She is coping 'ok' at the moment ... and I just hope that things don't deteriorate :(
Take care - and just be aware! xx
My friend couldn't recall what chemo regime she'd been on .... so it may NOT relate to all chemo regimes - and it took some years before she was aware she had a problem.
I had my hair cut yesterday - no big deal - my hair dresser (who was diagnosed with BC over 5 years ago and was running the Look good, feel better program) was really surprised when I told her earlier in the year that I had 'Joined the Club' .....she said 'Golf Club?' So she was gobsmacked when I said, 'No, the Breast Cancer Club'. Since then, we'd chat every time I went in for a cut ......
Yesterday, she stunned me when she said that she had had a heart attack & been in ICU for a number of days & in hospital for another week or more - and that it was the BC chemo that had caused it! She has about 20% of the 'pumping side' of her heart that has basically died (pushing her blood out of her heart - so a very reduced flow) - and there is no cure - just a heart transplant if it gets 'bad enough'. She had a massive amount of fluid in her lungs that needed to be drained - which caused pain with every breath. She has to weigh herself regularly now - as increased weight can indicate the fluid buildup in her lungs again.
She also developed a really dry hacking cough. She was incredibly uncomfortable sleeping at night - even sleeping sitting up supported by pillows didn't help ... and was having strong chest pains. She presented to Emergency at Taree Hospital & after a couple of days there was sent to John Hunter Hospital at Newcastle, where further tests confirmed 'Non Systemic Cardiomyopathy'.
She is coping 'ok' at the moment ... and I just hope that things don't deteriorate :(
Take care - and just be aware! xx
32 Replies
- Oh dear, I totally missed the date the original post was written, lol
@"Polly Rose", how did your cardiac catheterization go? - Great to hear from you @"Polly Rose" .... I hope you are going well. xx
Gail is much the same ... a bit thinner again (last time I spotted her) & very much aware of her circumstances .... I will be checking up with her in the next couple of weeks when I am due for another haircut! She is a real sweetie.
Just take care, ladies .... My main Mantra is:
IF IN DOUBT - GET CHECKED OUT!!!
XX - Wow ladies I had completely forgotten about this post and I really enjoyed re-reading all of the comments.
@arpie thanks for sharing that link. It has great information for everyone to be aware of. I hope your friend Gail is doing better.
@lrb_03 it’s lovely to hear from you. I’m glad that your cardiologist is keeping a close eye on things. The earlier it is when they identify any heart issue then the easier it is to treat.
@Rose18 how are you going now? I hope you have been able to get some answers as to why you are feeling dizzy. Sometimes knowing what is happening can be disappointing but still a relief.
@Afraser I’m glad as that your heart issues don’t cause you any great symptoms. I hope it stays that way for you. - 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. - I am pretty sure my irregular heartbeat was encouraged, if not actually caused, by Adriamycin. The condition is very manageable, my heart health generally is good (just the electrics are a bit shonky) and as I am largely asymptomatic, causes me little problem but also being asymptomatic, I didn't know for a while that I had it!
- And other BC medications can also cause heart problems - from palpitations right thru to more serious issues
https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/side_effects/heart_probs?fbclid=IwAR1xsmeFF6zdxZMcuDpSpUS6t2dZy8BM6phcbZullNnFP-N-ccxRlo2xsnU - Hi @Rose18 I understand how worrying it is when Drs first suggest cardiomyopathy but it’s so important to keep on top of heart issues. At the start I was diagnosed by having an echocardiogram but when I had a follow up one soon after it seemed to have resolved. It was only because I was still fainting and having symptoms eg fatigue and breathlessness that one of my cardiologists decided to do a stress echo instead and see how my heart reacted to exercise. This is when they realised that it hadn’t resolved and since then it has progressed to now be heart failure. It’s disappointing as we still have 3 of our children living at home and 2 still at uni but I don’t have the energy to run the house the way that I would like to.
If you are still having issues please make sure you keep asking to be checked and if need be ask for a stress echo. The earlier that they can identify the damage the better the outcome and you are 100% right about exercise being important too. Maintaining your fitness will improve your overall health in so many ways but it’s especially important for heart health post chemo. - Stay well, ladies and do what you have to do to stay fit, without overdoing it!
A fine line, I would think!
take care xxx - I hope you are well @"Polly Rose". They tested me for cardiomyopathy at one point which was very scary. I have ongoing periods of almost blacking out. I’m in my mid 40s and heart issues are a real concern for some women who have been through chemo. I think doctors need to focus more on these side effects. Exercise is a good step to maintaining a level of fitness and heart health.
