heart damage due to Adriamycin

MaryGail
MaryGail Member Posts: 10
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I am having some heart problems and see a cardiologist next week, but would like to discuss any experience any of you have had with "cardiomyopathy" caused by Adriamycin. As I understand it the drug can damage the left ventricle, which is the chamber that pumps blood to the body. If weakened it can't pump effectively, and eventually pumps faster to get more blood out. I'm having a rapid pulse and low BP, which fits that, but not too bad yet. I am "antsy" waiting to see the cardiologist. Anyone out there with any info on this to share?

Comments

  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #2
    I only did 3 of the 4 Adriamycin because my heart got so jumpy.....solve itself after time...

    Hugs, Kathi
  • LesleyH
    LesleyH Member Posts: 370
    #3
    I am fine now, but damage continues for 20 years: http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/CHF/tb/3765

    I had 6 rounds of Adriamycin. I also have vaso-vagal syncope and it's much worse now. I faint really easily.

    Hugs.

    Lesley
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #4
    LesleyH said:

    I am fine now, but damage continues for 20 years: http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/CHF/tb/3765

    I had 6 rounds of Adriamycin. I also have vaso-vagal syncope and it's much worse now. I faint really easily.

    Hugs.

    Lesley

    Thanks, again, Lesley for the info....the interesting part is that at the end of the article it states that the curative measures of this for cancer almost always outweigh the risks.
    BUT, that said, I feel oncologists need to keep this in the back of their minds as they are making up our treatment plans, not just give it as the 'stock item'.

    Hugs to a VERY smart lady!!!!
    Kathi
  • MaryGail
    MaryGail Member Posts: 10
    #5
    LesleyH said:

    I am fine now, but damage continues for 20 years: http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/CHF/tb/3765

    I had 6 rounds of Adriamycin. I also have vaso-vagal syncope and it's much worse now. I faint really easily.

    Hugs.

    Lesley

    Thanks LeslieH for that link. It was scary but informative. I was advised of potential cardiac risk of course, back in '99, but at that point killing the cancer was foremost in my mind. I'm continuing to be cancer free, so far, so am thankful for that. I'll let you all know what I learn from the cardiologist next week. I am quite thankful that my primary care MD takes the increased heart rate very seriously in spite of his not finding any other abnormalities. He said his concern came from the fact that I'd taken Adriamycin. So he is aware of the risk as well!

    I am a Reach To Recovery volunteer and now have to wrestle with how to talk to women getting ready to begin taking Adriamycin. I think I may put myself on "hold" until I'm less anxious about it and can be more objective.

    If others join this discussion and have experience with cardiac problems due to Adriamycin, I'd like to hear from you.

    Thanks all!
  • Susan956
    Susan956 Member Posts: 510
    #6
    I have had some heart related issues. We are not sure whether it was caused by the A/C or the herceptin that I took. We believe that it was from the Herceptin. But with time it is recovering. They checked mine by doing routine Echocardiagrams which allowed them to measure my heart ejection ratio. Mine went from a normal 65 down to 45. It is now slowly making it back into the mid 50's. So hopefully, if you have any problems your will continue to recover.

    Take Care. God Bless.

    Susan
  • MaryGail
    MaryGail Member Posts: 10
    #7
    Susan956 said:

    I have had some heart related issues. We are not sure whether it was caused by the A/C or the herceptin that I took. We believe that it was from the Herceptin. But with time it is recovering. They checked mine by doing routine Echocardiagrams which allowed them to measure my heart ejection ratio. Mine went from a normal 65 down to 45. It is now slowly making it back into the mid 50's. So hopefully, if you have any problems your will continue to recover.

    Take Care. God Bless.

    Susan

    Thanks Susan. That sounds good! I hope your heart continues to improve.
  • Mrumsey123
    Mrumsey123 Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2016 #8
    Ef fluctuating

    my ef was 75% pre chemo for lymphoma. Having lots of symptoms went down to 39%. Still have symptoms and it is 60%. Has anyone else had damage and fluctuations in ef?

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