Heart attack after anal cancer treatment

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shamayim
shamayim Member Posts: 22 Member
in Anal Cancer #1

I had a massive heart attack a year and a half after fininshing treatment.  I was wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience.   My heart was good before I received treatment.  I also developed a heart murmur first, had a normal echocardiogram and then 6 months later had the widowmaker.  I dont believe the chemotherapy caused this but more than one nurse I know has said they thought there was a connection.  5FU is not the type of  chemotherapy drug that has been associated with heart problems, so I thought I would put this out there in hopes of getting some feedback.   I do have some good news, I am 2 years cancer free.  I also have improved from being told I would need a heart transplant and am out of congestive heart failure.  I guess I can say recovery is possible no matter what you face so just keep on trying and dont give up! 

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  • Mollymaude
    Mollymaude Member Posts: 431 Member
    #2
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    Shamayim

    Wow! You've been through so much! I have found in general the oncologists don't especially like to acknowledge all the side effects that occur as a result of chemo and radiation. I would think all that stress on your body isn't good for any part of you but I don't know specifically about chemo causing heart attack or congestive heart failure. I'm glad to hear your cardiac function is improving. And congrats on 2 years cancer free!

  • Eddy B
    Eddy B Member Posts: 5
    #3
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    That is really strange. I

    That is really strange. I haven't heard of things like these occur before. Maybe the heart problems started appearing due to large ammounts of physical and physological stress?

    There are been cases when this happen. I am not sure if it could lead to heart failure. Maybe try consulting with an other cardiologist and oncologist ?

  • eihtak
    eihtak Member Posts: 1,473 Member
    edited August 2017 #4
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    shamayim...

    Hi,

    Congratulations on the 2 year cancer free mark as well as moving forward from heart disease! Thats a lot of positive progress to be proud of.

    I have not heard much about anal cancer treatment being a direct cause of heart disease, yet we all know that many people deal with digestive concerns following pelvic radiation. Many doctors still easily dismiss this as a long term side effect. The fact that food is absorbed differently and often not in a way that provides us with the best nutrition, it makes sense that some may become at risk for up and down blood sugar levels, kidney issues, or diabetes, which are factors in heart disease. Combine that with other changes in lifestyle and added stress, I do firmly believe that there is a relation. I myself have tried to do what I can to limit my risk, but accept that there will always be some things I cannot control.

    I wish you continued health in the right direction...please let us know how your journey continues over time!

    katheryn

  • jajmom
    jajmom Member Posts: 33 Member
    #5
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    Cardio vasospasms from 5FU

    Hi Shamayim,

    I did have cardio related problems from 5FU. It can occur around day 4 of a 5 day infusion cycle. It is a rare reaction to the Flourouracil. (I was the only patient my onc. department had ever know to have this side effect). My oncologist decided it would be too dangerous to have my second 5FU treatment so I only had Mitomycin for my second round of chemo. The reaction caused me to end up in the hospital, I needed to have a cardiac catherization and as far as they could tell me, there was no permanent damage. I do not believe this type of reaction comes later on, in fact within hours of stopping my 5FU pump , the spasms stopped. You would absolutely know if you were experiencimg this reaction during treatment, it was as though I were having a heart attack. The vessels closed off and my heart was not receiving the oxygen it needed. I was unable to walk more than 50-100 feet without stopping and sitting on the floor. It felt as though someone had their fists in my chest and were squeezing as hard as they could. There are also a few people who genetically cannot breakdown the 5FU and these folks are at very high risk. That is why it is important to notify your oncologist immediately if you are experiencing any side effect from the 5FU.

    Congrats on your 2 year mark, and that is wonderful news that your heart seems to be repairing! I am currently 3 months out of treatment for anal cancer, but I am also a 36 year survivor of non-hodgkins lymphoma.

    Best wishes in your recovery,

    Chris

  • tanda
    tanda Member Posts: 174 Member
    #6
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    chemo and heart disease

    apparently rare, but it can be a problem; usually it is an issue for patients having mn=any cycles of chemo over a longer period of time.  Glad that now you are now doing very well.

    http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/expert-answers/chemotherapy-side-effects/faq-20058319

  • shamayim
    shamayim Member Posts: 22 Member
    #7
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    Thank you for info, congrats & encouragement

    Hello to All,

    I appreciate the responses and congrats on my dual survivorship and anniversary.  Ironically many of the people in my cardio-rehab class also are cancer survivors.  I am one of the younger ones so it is quite possible that their cancer did not affect their heart it is more a function of old age.  However, the pulmonary patients may be a different story.... Jamom/Chris you are quite an unusual dual cancer survivor.  I have never heard of such a thing and am sorry you experienced cardio vasospasms and are able to share that experience.  Three months out is good and you are on the road to recovery.  I never thought about my heart (because I had no problems)but I had a huge kidney stone- 14mm and was terrified I would have an attack during treatment.  When I asked my oncologist about it she just looked at the ground and and shook her head and said you dont want to do that....and thank heavens it held off!  The week I was feeling the best is when I had my heart attack! The kidney stone the week before hurt way worse!

    Stress does have a huge affect on our heart and I had plenty- a divorce,  difficult situation with an elderly parent, job loss and a long distance move.  Cancer was just the icing on the cake.  I just keep trying to move forward. This week should have been a milestone- I was scheduled for chemo port removal when my doctor called me to tell me my echocardiogram showed a blood clot in my heart and I had to go back on the blood thinners that I had just come off of.  So no port removal and no colonscopy that I need until we can get the clot disolved in a couple of months.  By then I will have lost my Obamacare so I am not sure what will happen (along with many other people).  But I do believe in not giving up and maybe my cecal polyp is gone and I wont need a bowel resection to prevent a possible secondary cancer after all...!   I still have hope that I will get what I need.  

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