Heart related problems

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peanutbutter
peanutbutter Member Posts: 4
in Colorectal Cancer #1
My husband was diagnosed in November, 2008 with stage 4 colorectal cancer with 1 huge met to the lung. Over an 8 month time frame he had aggressive chemo & radiation. The primary colon tumor disappeared and the lung tumor shrank from the size of a grapefruit to a grape. However also during this time, new tumors spread to the healthy lung. Surgery removed the primary residual colon tumor plus the new active lung tumors just discovered, with hopes that the original lung tumor, that responded to chemo and radiation, would disappear on its own. Two months after surgery the original lung tumor had doubled in size and spread to the liver. It was decided that treatment basically failed and it was labeled "out of control" by the doc. Nothing to do but a clinical trial or call hospice, which was not too encouraging. The concern now is that he is having episodes of very rapid heart beat and pounding, with profuse sweating and general tightness in his chest. Is this a heart attack? His chemo docs say the heart symptoms are not related to the cancer, however I disagree since there is only so much space in the chest cavity. I think the lung tumors are growing and pushing on, or creating fluids that are pressing on the hilum or pericardial sac. Has anyone else experienced this kind of heart problem with cancer? Any constructive thoughts are welcome.

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  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #2
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    my concern.........
    The concern now is that he is having episodes of very rapid heart beat and pounding, with profuse sweating and general tightness in his chest. Is this a heart attack?



    My opinion would be if all this is going on would be to go to the ER and have his vitals checked and see if he is having a heart attack, that should have already been attended to but not by the Oncologists, but by the Dr on call at the ER.....Just my opinion though....
  • RickMurtagh
    RickMurtagh Member Posts: 587 Member
    #3
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    I wish
    I wish I had some experience of my own that might shed some light on your husbands condition, but I don't. Look for another opinion and don't give up one those trials!

    It can't hurt to keep him healthy with a boost from cancer fighting foods with all those antioxidants. An herbalist (nutrition, doctor type) or meditation might help with providing calm and maybe some control over that racing heart. I hope you find something that works and soon!
  • ketziah35
    ketziah35 Member Posts: 1,145
    #4
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    My mom went to the ER with
    My mom went to the ER with similar symptoms. Both daughters of $my mother don't play. When they happen we told everyone "time to pack it up" and go tothe ER. We were also told that this could be a sign of nlood clots or a heart attck, which are side effects of chemo. So my recommendation to you is "pack it up" and head to the docs or ER.
  • Buckwirth
    Buckwirth Member Posts: 1,258 Member
    #5
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    ER
    If you are at a doctor not presenting symptoms they can be prone to write it off.

    The ER (in my limited experience) never does this, and will move anyone presenting with heart issues to the top of the list.
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #6
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    Peanutbutter ?
    Another take on this?

    A stressed liver can do some neat tricks.....

    The liver regulates Serotonin, and Serotonin regulates the heart
    (along with many other functions). Cancer in the liver can cause
    the liver to fail to do it's job properly.

    Serotonin: Ubiquitous Neuromodulator in the Failing Heart

    When I suffered from A-Fib, my TCM doc treated my liver
    for a "yin deficiency", and that cured my A-Fib.

    It's funny the way things work.

    By the way.... My last trip to the "ER" for dehydration, resulted in
    the ER chief physician to declare that I -was not- dehydrated, he said
    what I had was a bad heart that required immediate medicine to get
    it under control. I insisted he was wrong; I refused heart meds and
    demanded to be IV hydrate. He insisted that would not cure my
    racing heart.

    I was IV hydrated, my heart regulated to normal beating, my
    blood pressure returned to normal, and the great ER Physician
    never once apologized for being a jerk.

    Most physicians will tell you that a hospital isn't anyplace
    you should voluntarily check in to. If you have to, you have to,
    but it's 100% safer to use a physician you are familiar with.

    Better health is coming your way!

    John
  • peanutbutter
    peanutbutter Member Posts: 4
    #7
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    John23 said:

    Peanutbutter ?
    Another take on this?

    A stressed liver can do some neat tricks.....

    The liver regulates Serotonin, and Serotonin regulates the heart
    (along with many other functions). Cancer in the liver can cause
    the liver to fail to do it's job properly.

    Serotonin: Ubiquitous Neuromodulator in the Failing Heart

    When I suffered from A-Fib, my TCM doc treated my liver
    for a "yin deficiency", and that cured my A-Fib.

    It's funny the way things work.

    By the way.... My last trip to the "ER" for dehydration, resulted in
    the ER chief physician to declare that I -was not- dehydrated, he said
    what I had was a bad heart that required immediate medicine to get
    it under control. I insisted he was wrong; I refused heart meds and
    demanded to be IV hydrate. He insisted that would not cure my
    racing heart.

    I was IV hydrated, my heart regulated to normal beating, my
    blood pressure returned to normal, and the great ER Physician
    never once apologized for being a jerk.

    Most physicians will tell you that a hospital isn't anyplace
    you should voluntarily check in to. If you have to, you have to,
    but it's 100% safer to use a physician you are familiar with.

    Better health is coming your way!

    John

    heart problems
    Thanks everyone for the responses. John, I especially thank you for your thoughts on dehydration. I will bring this up to my husband and get his thoughts. You really have to fight for your own well-being, even when the medical community discounts you. Good for insisting on what you thought was the problem, John.

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