topic Re: Chemo affects your heart? in Community Chat

Chemo affects your heart?

pegomyheart — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 17:34:14 GMT

I am close to 68 years old, and didn't know this. Right now my sister-in-law is fighting for her life. She is going through second round of chemo, because the first time results were poor. Last night her heart stopped twice . We are all praying

Does this happen often ?

Re: Chemo affects your heart?

dex — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 17:40:46 GMT

I didn't know that but I suspected it...those drugs are powerful.I will pray for her to recover and be well.I am sorry that your family is going through this. Your SIL is fighting hard right now.

Re: Chemo affects your heart?

jaxs mom — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 17:42:49 GMT

I hope she's ok.

There are many many many different chemo drugs and regimes used for different types of cancer. Some of them do have known possible cardiac risks. One of the chemo drugs I had is on that list, but there is a safe threshold and doctors purposely stay under it. The cardiac risks also don't show up until many years later. But then, with no treatment the vast majority of cancer patients ( including me) would die. And radiation is not without it's own long term health issues.

Re: Chemo affects your heart?

phoenixbrd — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 18:03:17 GMT

Pegomyheart...so sorry that your sister in law is going through this dreadful procedure...

This reminds me of a YT documentary called the Johnny Straws Project - Parts 1-4. A young man who recently finished a body building competition and is fighting for his life. He decided to quit his chemo...the doc is so raw and real. I was struck by how much many of us could relate to his battles on so many levels.

I'm sending you and your family wishes for peace and much love during this challenging time...

Re: Chemo affects your heart?

on the bay — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 18:04:45 GMT

I'm so sorry she is going through this and I think people who get chemo are very brave though we never know how we will respond or what we would do until we get cancer.

I'd never heard this either so I looked it up and this is good detailed info from the Mayo Clinic website (and I hope its okay to post this). So maybe they can try a different chemo.

(and also monitor her heart while on it)

Can chemotherapy side effects increase the risk of heart disease?Answers from Timothy J. Moynihan, M.D.

Chemotherapy side effects may increase the risk of heart disease, including weakening of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy) and rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias). Certain types of chemotherapy also may increase the risk of heart attack.

Treatment with angiogenesis inhibitors and certain other targeted medications has been linked to high blood pressure (hypertension).

Fortunately, heart disease associated with chemotherapy is rare — and not all chemotherapy drugs carry the potential side effect of heart damage.

Some anti-cancer treatments may cause temporary heart damage by weakening the heart muscle. These treatments include:

A class of drugs known as anthracyclines (doxorubicin, daunorubicin, others)
Newer medications, such as trastuzumab (Herceptin) and pertuzumab (Perjeta), which are drugs designed to attack the HER2 protein seen in some breast and other cancers

The chance of heart damage from anthracyclines is related to the total amount received during your lifetime. Your doctor will carefully monitor how much of these drugs you receive. Heart weakening from HER2-directed medications, such as trastuzumab, is not related to total lifetime dose and is often reversible.

Certain chemotherapy medications, such as taxanes, can cause an abnormal heart rhythm. This typically occurs temporarily during administration of the medications, so if you feel lightheaded or faint be sure to tell your chemotherapy nurse or doctor.

The drugs fluorouracil and capecitabine (Xeloda) can cause spasms of the coronary arteries and bring on a heart attack. This typically reverses quickly once the drug is stopped. If you have severe chest pain or shortness of breath while using these medications, tell your doctor immediately. If symptoms are severe, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911 or your local emergency number.

If your doctor is considering a chemotherapy drug that may affect your heart, you may undergo heart function testing before starting treatment. During treatment, you may need periodic heart monitoring as well. If you have a pre-existing heart condition, such as cardiomyopathy, your doctor may suggest a different type of chemotherapy.

If you experience significant problems, such as shortness of breath with minimal exertion or chest pain during chemotherapy, report it immediately to your health care team.

In addition, some cancers require radiation therapy. If the area of your body receiving radiation includes your heart, you have an increased risk of cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease and heart attack. The combination of radiation and chemotherapy can further increase your risk of heart damage. However, your doctor can take steps to reduce these risks as much as possible.

With

Timothy J. Moynihan, M.D.

Can chemotherapy side effects increase the risk of heart disease?Answers from Timothy J. Moynihan, M.D.

Treatment with angiogenesis inhibitors and certain other targeted medications has been linked to high blood pressure (hypertension).

Fortunately, heart disease associated with chemotherapy is rare — and not all chemotherapy drugs carry the potential side effect of heart damage.

Some anti-cancer treatments may cause temporary heart damage by weakening the heart muscle. These treatments include:

A class of drugs known as anthracyclines (doxorubicin, daunorubicin, others)
Newer medications, such as trastuzumab (Herceptin) and pertuzumab (Perjeta), which are drugs designed to attack the HER2 protein seen in some breast and other cancers

If you experience significant problems, such as shortness of breath with minimal exertion or chest pain during chemotherapy, report it immediately to your health care team.

With

Timothy J. Moynihan, M.D.

Re: Chemo affects your heart?

dex — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 18:06:41 GMT

@jaxs mom Cancer treatments are very difficult but the hope for cure can make them bearable.i am so happy that your treatments worked for you and will pray that you stay well from now on.

Re: Chemo affects your heart?

meallen616 — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 18:13:54 GMT

For your sister-in- law,

Re: Chemo affects your heart?

Puzzle Piece — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 18:20:03 GMT

Yes, it can, but not with everyone.

I did sustain permanent damage to my right aeorta. I have had cardiac arrests too. What the doctors call it now is CHF - Congestive Heart Failure.

It only happens to about 1 in 1,000 I was told. The Adreomyacin(sp) is responsible but necessary to deal with the disease.

You have choices to make when you are diagnosed with cancer. You also have to be brave and courageous and live with your choices. There are no guarantees.

Best to your sister.

Re: Chemo affects your heart?

CANDLEQUEEN — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 18:26:20 GMT

First off, Prayers for you and your family...My mom had breast cancer many years ago, and 4 years ago ended up with a bad heart, had to have a triple bypass, and still has problems from time to time, her cardiologist said it was from the meds from the chemo when battling breast cancer. My mom is soon to be 85 yrs old and does very very well. My husband's sister also had breast cancer many years ago, and developed a bad heart problem about 7 or 8 years ago, and unfortunately she passed away four years ago....So in some cases-definitely yes, but not in all cases.....

Re: Chemo affects your heart?

Pqfan — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 18:29:16 GMT

Sending prayers for your sister in law.

Re: Chemo affects your heart?

ShowMe — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 19:46:55 GMT

So sorry to hear about your SIL. Hopefully she is in good hands and they can help her.

I too am a cancer patient. Have been undergoing treatments for almost 2 years now. Have a treatment every 2 weeks. It has been tough, but my oncologist is very pleased with how I am doing.

Before he signs off on any treatment for me, the oncology nurses take all vitals, including blood. These procedures before any treatment are very important. Have had quite a few side affects, but they are being handled with different doctors (they all know I am going through with treatments), and are under control.

Will add your SIL to my daily prayer list. Have several folks on my list that are battling this terrible disease.

Re: Chemo affects your heart?

bri20 — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 20:32:37 GMT

I'm so sorry about your SIL.

Chemo can affect everything

Re: Chemo affects your heart?

wagirl — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 22:08:18 GMT

Having gone thru 20 weeks of chemo , I was told about how it can affect your heart ; sometimes not right away but years down the road. Chemo affects many things as I am finding out after almost 5 years. And it's all so random and not the same for everyone. Hard to know if you made the right decison sometimes. Sending out good thoughts to her and you.

Re: Chemo affects your heart?

chrystaltree — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 22:55:17 GMT

When you say "chemo", that really doesn't say much because there are many, many chemotherapy drugs and they are all powerful. They have to be to do what they do. They all have potential side effects and some do affect the cardiovascular system. There are no oncologists here, no one here knows how often it happens and you don't know if her cardiac crisis was due to the chemo drugs or some other factor, even the cancer itself. You are under enough strain, don't add to it unneccesarily. I think you should stop trying to figure it all out and leave that to her medical team. You should focus on offering emotional support to your SIL and helping her family in any way that you can.

Re: Chemo affects your heart?

3suwm5 — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 23:11:06 GMT

@pegomyheart I'm so sorry to hear about your SIL.

When I was first diagnosed, they put me on a heart machine to check the blood flow from the heart, as well as all kinds of additional tests. Once they had those starting markers, we started the treatments.

Sometimes, you only have two options - get treatment or pass on. It's a decision you make with your family.

All the best to your SIL and family members.

Re: Chemo affects your heart?

dex — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 23:12:06 GMT

@ShowMe I will pray for a complete healing for you too.You have been through a lot and you must be a very strong person because you don't complain and you so deserve the right to complain.I always admire the courage,determination and strength of women that sees them through what life hands out.

Re: Chemo affects your heart?

brandiwine — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 23:14:14 GMT

I'm sorry your family is going through this. Chemo is poison and affects your organs. Sometimes we have to make choices that have no real good side. Many people get through the cancer only to have other organ diseases that shorten their lives. Very sad. I wish your family the best.

Re: Chemo affects your heart?

Shelbelle — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 23:27:54 GMT

My friend had Herceptin for BC, and she has to go every 6 mos for a sonnogram of her heart, so far so good, been several years.

Re: Chemo affects your heart?

hckynut — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 23:43:33 GMT

rare but possible

Re: Chemo affects your heart?

luvdoodles — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 10:52:54 GMT

Yes, I did have heart damage from chemo too. I was treated with Adriamycen {sp} and Cytoxin. Adriamycen is extremely toxic. Permanent heart damage. My onc said maybe they gave me a little too much on my last treatment. I was only 39 at the time. Cancer free for 17 years now. I just hope the old ticker holds on for many more years. Prayers for your SIL. It is so grueling.