has this happened to anyone else - Cancer: Lung Message Board

lorriem · 04-12-2006, 08:42 AM

I wrote this on the heart board but maybe some one on this site might be able to help.Heart problems after Chemo (Taxol and carboplatian).My husband had lung cancer (non smoker)last may and they took his upper right lobe out he also chose CHEMO after just in case they didn't get it all. They did and he is for now cancer free. The last few months he has had many PVC's more so then before the surgery and his pulmonolgist said that he also has tacacardia. sp. He will be seeing a heart doc thurs and I didn't think that PVC's were dangerious. He has this thought in his mind that he will be needing by pass surgery because the pvc's are signs of a blockage. I say no they are not but I could be wrong. His colesteral leval is 186. Need I worry.Has anyone had this or any other heart problems after Chemo?

tuckygal · 04-12-2006, 09:38 AM

Hi, I don't have PVCs but do have an elevated heart rate quite often. The highest has been 120. My oncologist told me not to worry if it isn't any higher than that very often. I sometimes wonder just how much damage might have been done by the chemo and radiation and then I have to remind myself I am still alive right now because of the chemo and radiation. It is good that your husband is seeing a heart doctor. My thoughts are it is better to be safe than sorry. It is great news that he is cancer-free. God bless and take good care of yourselves.

Hep · 04-13-2006, 10:56 AM

HI there... My Dad has NSCLC III B and completed his last "series" of chemo when he had an episode at home where he passed out. My mom called 911 and they determined that he was having a heart attack. Long story short, he had to have bypass surgery, but they ended up STENTING his arteries instead. I have asked and suspected all along that the 2 conditions (heart and Chemo) were related but everyone has assured me otherwise. Now seeing this your posting, I believe they are. Talk about stress... you are so worried about your loved one for the Lung Cancer and the heart issues practically throw you over the edge.
My dad's heart is stable now, but no surgeon will touch him for at least 4 months and his oncologist was trying to get him to be a surgical candidate. So now he is receiving Chemo (Taxol and Paralatin) and Radiation simultaneously. Now I am worried the heart issue will pop up again.

Thank you for making me realize I am not crazy...

Hep

lorriem · 04-15-2006, 01:56 PM

Hep I am sorry what you dad is going through. My husband also had nsclc but he was lucky that he could have the surgery. His tumor was almost 10 cm and the first surgeon we saw said he didn't think that it could be operated on. We then went to another surgeon at a cancer center who said he could do it. They never staged him but said he was maybe a three due to the size. After his surgery the staged him at one b.We have also been told that the Chemo does not affect the heart but when we saw the heart Doc he said it could. My husband will have a monitar put on tues and on Thurs will have a Chemical Stress test since he has asthma and part of his lung removed they fell that a regular stress test he would not be able to complete.Two weeks he will then have an ECG.So I quess we will find out then.

Kimslos · 04-15-2006, 07:00 PM

I just read your posting and wanted to share with you my husband's experience...my husband has SCLC (also a nonsmoker like your husband) and we went to Texas to an alternative for his cancer treatment and they needed to do an echo on his heart. The results were perfect and nothing wrong with his heart. He then began chemo in June and on July 19th was in the ER for a blood clot and his heart was having I guess what you are referring to as PVC's. They had asked if he ever had a heart problem and we mentioned that he had just had an echo a month before and it was perfect. The doctor mentioned it can mess with your heart and cause problems. I think each person is different and how their body repsonds. Anyway, wanted to share this with you. I think it is absolutely wonderful that your husband is cancer free! I hope and pray for that day for my husband and the others on this posting board.
Kim