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About to start radiation: Did anyone have heart or lung complications?

Posted by kakc19 @kakc19, Dec 13, 2024

I am starting left breast radiation and wondering if anyone has had complications of heart or lung issues from it?
TIA

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judydarlene | @judydarlene | Mar 8 3:10pm
In reply to @wr61 "@judydarlene To protect a pacemaker from radiation in the same left breast, the following measures are..." + (show)
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@judydarlene To protect a pacemaker from radiation in the same left breast, the following measures are typically taken:
Surgical relocation: In some cases, especially for breast cancer patients, the pacemaker may need to be surgically relocated to the opposite side of the body before radiation therapy. This is to avoid direct or scatter radiation that could cause malfunction of the device.
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Monitoring: A nurse or trained radiographer may monitor the pacemaker during treatment to ensure it functions properly. This is usually done before, during, and after treatment if the pacemaker is directly in the radiotherapy field.
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Treatment planning: The radiation and cardiology teams will work closely together to create a treatment plan that is safe and will treat the cancer while managing its effects on the device. This includes planning the best way to deliver the treatment and considering factors like the type of device, dependence on the device, type of radiation therapy, maximum radiation dose, and location of treatment.
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Interrogation: Before, during, and after treatment, the implanted device may be interrogated to check its battery life, how the leads are working, and if there are any changes in the heart rate or rhythm. This is a painless test that takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
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It is essential to follow the treatment plan and consult with healthcare professionals to ensure the safety and functionality of the pacemaker during radiation therapy.

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@wr61 thank you for your prompt & thorough reply.
Moving my pacemaker to another location was not what I wanted to hear as I feel there is more risk in moving that to the other side & don’t feel should I get cancer in the other breast & need radiation in the other breast, would have to move it again?? This pacemaker really can complicate things.
I’m not sure I feel comfortable with the scatter radiation even if I did have it moved. Any other thoughts or experiences you have on scatter radiation is greatly appreciated!

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wr61 | @wr61 | Mar 8 6:05pm
In reply to @judydarlene "@wr61 thank you for your prompt & thorough reply. Moving my pacemaker to another location was..." + (show)
Profile picture for judydarlene @judydarlene

@wr61 thank you for your prompt & thorough reply.
Moving my pacemaker to another location was not what I wanted to hear as I feel there is more risk in moving that to the other side & don’t feel should I get cancer in the other breast & need radiation in the other breast, would have to move it again?? This pacemaker really can complicate things.
I’m not sure I feel comfortable with the scatter radiation even if I did have it moved. Any other thoughts or experiences you have on scatter radiation is greatly appreciated!

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@judydarlene No, sorry. That answer was just a quick search, cut and paste. I study this site to try and help my mom with her Radiotherapy treatments. Take care ❤

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d4heal | @d4heal | Jun 24 12:31pm

I had left-side radiation at age 42, more than 30 years ago. I have fair skin and successfully used aloe vera to deal with the skin burns, and took very heavy doses of antioxidants prescribed by an herbalist. Radiation back then was harsher. I nosedived into a horrible unnatural menopause age 46 with hot flashes so severe they could not be controlled - for many years. I could never sleep more than 2 hours at a time.
6 years after radiation I developed Hashimoto's & have been on thyroid meds ever since - my thyroid gland is "atrophied" now. I also experienced mysterious huge increases in cholesterol (lifelong vegetarian) and had severe osteoporosis by age 50, which I attribute to radiation.
A few years ago, age 70s, I developed congestive heart failure. I have since healed from that with my own herbal heart tincture.
I'm now nervous about lung damage. I swim a lot so my breath capacity is good...so far.
I believe radiation is absolutely terrible and destructive. Of course, I did not have a choice.

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diamonddog | @diamonddog | 6 days ago

I developed cryptogenic organizing pneumonia on the radiation side within 5 months of treatment. It's an ongoing battle as it always wants to come back no matter what therapies they've tried. No one warned me of this possibility (I was told, "Oh, you may get a little bit of a sunburn..."). I'm sure they do everything they can to restrict the field so it doesn't affect other organs, but they aren't gods. Doesn't make my days any easier, though.

If you visit the Predict Breast tool you'll be able to see whether radiation therapy makes any difference in your projected survival rate. I wish I had. Although I didn't know about Predict at the time, later I learned my "benefit" was 1% .... I had it, not being told about the possible side effects (beyond "a sunburn") and have probably permanently damaged my health as a result.

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dlardin | @dlardin | 5 days ago

Since my 16 radiation treatments on my right breast I now have a cough and feel I can't clear my throat.

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