Does anybody know about heart problems with radiation?

Here is a related discussion:
- About to start radiation: Did anyone have heart or lung complications https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/radiation-complications/

@vlaugtug, I thought you might like to know about cardio-oncology.

Mayo Clinic offers a program to address heart problems associated with cancer treatment called cardio-oncology or for people who have a pre-existing heart condition when diagnosed with cancer. The Cardio-Oncology Clinic (https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/cardio-oncology-clinic/overview/ovc-20442193) evaluates people prior to cancer treatment and patients who have experienced side effects due their treatment, and can help evaluate treatment when you have both cancer and heart conditions.

You might wish to inquire about the program if the radiologist didn't mention it already.

I had IDC at 5 o’clock on left breast. Lumpectomy/reconstruction on both- radiation on left 15 days. They will teach you how to hold your breath during treatment… the machine will shut down if you don’t hold breath. I have not had any problems, besides fatigue and my skin taking awhile to heal. I was 60.

We are in a similar situation. L mastectomy 22 yr ago, negative sentinel nodes, DCIS. 4 months ago bilateral mammogram showed new tumor in L breast. Had lumpectomy 5 weeks ago, saline implant removed. Axillary sentinel node was negative. My tumor was at 8 o’clock. (6 o’clock is bottom of breast). Good margins. I have noticed from reading these very helpful chats that chest wall cancers seem to pop up often so asked in surgeon office yesterday how they would follow. She suggested radiation onc consult which is in 1 week. There are lymph node chains all over your body. Surgeon pointed out my tumor was much closer to the internal mammary chain. They don’t attempt biopsies there often because pretty deep, harder to get to is what I have read. The safest radiation is with proton beam. There aren’t any of those machines in my state! ChatGPT was so helpful in explaining criteria, where closest proton beam tech was. We will see what radiation oncology says but I plan to push for proton beam, since I have a recurrent cancer I think I will qualify

Had left whole breast radiation x 16 treatments in January. I am quite active but have noticed some SOB with activity with hills where I never had it before. Fast forward CT scan done, some radiation damage noted left lung. Still continue to be active but at least I have a reason! Also would not have changed my decision!
Good luck!

Chemo 5 months, dble mastectomy, radiation 30 days.
About 9 months or a year from all treatment, I asked my onc to order a complete heart evaluation with pics to see if my heart was damaged in the whole process.
I had very extensive and thorough pics taken.
I wanted to:
1) see if there was any damage
2) have a heart pictorial prototype on file

I believe this was done in the beginning of 2015.
Pics showed no signs of heart or any other damage around the heart.

In 2022 I had a heart incident and went to the ER. My enzymes were out of the wazoo. The Cardiologist expected some damage. He said I had either passed a blood clot or had an arterial spasm but he wasn't sure.

Fortunately, he had my prototype heart pics available on file.
He came into my room and said “ Your heart looks exactly the same as your prototype pics. You're very fortunate not to have incurred any heart damage, and you served yourself and me well by getting those pics done. I had a good baseline to make a comparison.”
He was in disbelief because of the high enzyme levels I had. So was my onc when she read the report.
With that said, if your insurance will cover it, I highly recommend getting pics of your heart about 6-9 months after you've completed your bc treatment.
You’ll have accessible previous images for the cardiologist to compare.

that is good to know ebtexas 55, I have read many scientific papers and researched this as much as possible and it seems that the heart damage is ongoing even into the 10th year. there is even a name for it Radiation Cardiac Disease. it can damage the epithelial cells of your vessels..I am going to go ahead with radiation at the Mayo with proton therapy and the understanding from my Oncology radiologist that she will pull the heart as far out of the field as she can. I am hoping this works..fight cancer and get something else..that is no good. but what can we do?

No problems at all so far. I finished my 30th on Thursday. The left breast has a slight tan. I use Aloe Vera if it itches but basically it has all gone very well!

Youre in good hands at Mayos!
I dont know much about proton therapy.
Fyi: For my radiation treatments, I used aloe vera gel.
I scored an aloe leaf, cut it into 4x4 blocks and kept in fridge.
As soon as I got home from radiation I would put some gel all over my radiated chest. I was home alone so I went shirtless.
Every 20-30 mins Id apply more gel.
When I had to go out and at night, I used Lily of the Desert 99% aloe vera Gelly.
After 2 weeks, my radiologist called me into his office and expressed concern. I asked him if he was concerned because there were no signs of burning.
He said yes.
I informed him of my regime. I was not using what he gave me, (Aquaphor). He was a bit surprised but I said Id rather use what God made, rather than man.
I never burned. My chest has no brown skin. It feels like a babys skin.
I also drank an occasional glass of Georges Aloe vera to work on the inside during those 30 days.
Blessings!

Health 77, yes! Aloe vera!

I had prone radiation which helps eliminate heart issues in the future. The problem is most people are not aware of this, I found out because the mother of the nurse at my drs office had it. I was just lucky she was there at my appointment.