New here - looking for survivors with cardiomyopathy

maelex
maelex Member Posts: 1
in Breast Cancer #1

I am new to this forum.  I was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer in August, 2002.  I had a lumpectomy, followed by 8 rounds of chemo (4 Adriamycin and 4 Cytoxin), then about 10 weeks of radiation.  I was doing fine until earlier this year when I went to the ER with chest pains and shortness of breath.  They did EKGs and CT-scan, but said everything was normal and sent me home.

Three weeks later, the chest pain and shortness of breath were so bad that I went to the ER again.  This time they determined I had fluid on my lungs.  After an echocardiogram, it was determined I had idiopathic cardiomyopathy.  I'm now on four new meds and the cardiologist is pushing for me to get a defibrillator inserted in my chest. 

Is there anyone here who was also diagnosed with this problem after chemo - especially after ten years? 

 

 

Comments

  • cathyp
    cathyp Member Posts: 376 Member
    #2
    Hi Maelex,
    I am a 2 time

    Hi Maelex,

    I am a 2 time Hodgkin's Disease Survivor (1989 & 1994) who was dx'd with breast cancer (2007) from my Hodgkin's Radiation tx's.  I am a member of a Long Term Survivors List Serv who have many complications from their treatments.  The majority of us seem to be HD survivors but many other survivors share their struggles.  Many HD's survivors have damage from radiation and Adriamycin showing up years later after treatments.  It manifests as valve problems, stenosis and/or cardiomyopathy.  I have stable valve leakages and a "blunting of the normal augmentation" of my heart (heart has a hard time recoverying from strenuous exercise). I am followed closely.

    What has helped my fellow survivors in your current situation is to seek out a cardiologist who has treated survivors who had rads and chemo.  I wish you the best as you face this new challenge.

    Cathy

     

  • Brooklynchele
    Brooklynchele Member Posts: 123
    #3
    Adrimycin

    Hi - I was Stage IIB TNBC.  My onc had me use 2 rounds of Taxotere and Cytoxan because I had a heart issue I was investigating just prior to my cancer diagnosis.  He said there was a cardiac risk, although small, if I used Adriamycin.  So while I am a survivor (3 years) I didn't have the Adriamycin - just the Cytoxin.  I know this isn't quite what you were looking for but I wanted you to know my onc advised against the use.

  • Pink Rose
    Pink Rose Member Posts: 493
    #4
    cathyp said:

    Hi Maelex,
    I am a 2 time

    Hi Maelex,

    I am a 2 time Hodgkin's Disease Survivor (1989 & 1994) who was dx'd with breast cancer (2007) from my Hodgkin's Radiation tx's.  I am a member of a Long Term Survivors List Serv who have many complications from their treatments.  The majority of us seem to be HD survivors but many other survivors share their struggles.  Many HD's survivors have damage from radiation and Adriamycin showing up years later after treatments.  It manifests as valve problems, stenosis and/or cardiomyopathy.  I have stable valve leakages and a "blunting of the normal augmentation" of my heart (heart has a hard time recoverying from strenuous exercise). I am followed closely.

    What has helped my fellow survivors in your current situation is to seek out a cardiologist who has treated survivors who had rads and chemo.  I wish you the best as you face this new challenge.

    Cathy

     

    I wish I could help you too

    I wish I could help you too with some advice.  I can offer you hugs and lots of support.  I wish you the all the best and please keep posting to update us.

    Hugs, Rose

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