Heart tests prior to Breast Cancer Surgery?

Posted by rylee2019 @rylee2019, Jun 19 7:41pm

Last month, I was diagnosed with DCIS in two locations in my left breast and posted some questions here. Everyone was so supportive, and it helped me to step back and not rush through the deluge of information and consults. I have appointments next month with another breast cancer surgeon and a reconstructive plastic surgeon for second opinions. My question now is related to cardiovascular disease. Does anyone have cardiovascular disease or know of someone who does that went through breast cancer surgery? If so, did you/they have to do an EKG or other heart related tests prior to surgery?
Thanks for sharing!

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celestebradham | @celestebradham | Jun 20 7:03am

I don’t have any heart conditions, but MD Anderson did EKG prior to surgery.

celestebradham | @celestebradham | Jun 20 7:06am

If you have radiation, which I had 15 days on left breast. You will have to and they will teach you , how to breathe and hold your breath during radiation of left side. Machine will shut down if your breathing isn’t correct. It’s not hard- but just saying

dinodonna | @dinodonna | Jun 20 7:49am

In reply to @celestebradham "I don’t have any heart conditions, but MD Anderson did EKG prior to surgery." + (show)

I had to get a cardiac release (I had recently had an exam at my cardiologist for a minor ongoing issue) prior to getting radiation. I believe it is because there is a minor chance that there can be damage done to your heart and/or lungs during the radiation process so they want to know if there is a problem to begin with. I believe that this is "normal" to get an EKG or some type of cardiac exam prior to radiation of the breast.

My breast cancer was on the left side but very close to my armpit so I did not have to do any special breathing during radiation treatments. I had 16 radiation sessions, and have had no heart problems result.

Best of luck to you!

lifetraveler | @lifetraveler | Jun 20 11:26am

Hi! rylee@2019:

Sorry for your recent BC diagnosis...

In my area, anybody that needs any surgery done would need to have a pre-operation checkup with his/her primary care physician to make sure that there's no surprises during the surgery. During that pre-op checkup, it is a standard procedure here to have EKG done on that patient's heart within 2 weeks prior to their operation. I have cardiovascular disease called WPW syndrome; however, I still went through the left BC surgery without any complication to my heart - as far as I am aware of.

Best luck to you on the journey ahead!

yakyak9 | @yakyak9 | Jun 21 9:23am

Yes, it was part of a group of tests. I’m 80 and grateful for all the tests performed prior to surgery. Hugs.

rylee2019 | @rylee2019 | Jun 21 9:37am

Thank you everyone for your great answers and advice! My cardiologist wanted me to do a treadmill stress test and I thought that seemed extreme, but I just learned from his PA that it's unrelated to my cancer. I mentioned in my last annual with him (prior to cancer diagnosis), that my stamina seemed to be in a decline so he ordered the test for me (I'm a runner, hiker, golfer). Looking forward to getting all this testing done!