Cancer Treatment Induced Heart Disease

Your story is so similar to mine. My Hodgkin's treatment was 1978-79. I also have a miracle baby. Never ever had any idea my heart was so damaged until I sought a diagnosis and treatment for dyspnea beginning in 2016. After multiple tests and multiple doctors in various locations, I finally received a diagnosis of radiation induced heart disease at Mayo last October. Since then, there have been treatment options to determine. I had triple valve surgery May 18 and still hospitalized.

This full body mantal radiation treatment for Hodgkins was stopped shortly after my timing (1981). Thank God they knew how to stop it for me but I’m also happy they realized the issues with it and changed. I was also told that I’d never have children due to the radiation (this is a whole other story). I have a beautiful 30 year old daughter who the U if MN calls a “Miracle Baby”.

I’ll give you some items I’ve been dealing with since the radiation....very susceptible to pneumonia and bronchitis due to lung damage, spleen was removed so need to be cautious of viruses and bacterial infections. Heart attack was in 2014. U of MN told me 5 other people with same background of receiving this great amount of radiation back when I did, recently had unexplained heart attacks also. Again, really would have been nice to be aware that they had this info. earlier. The letter outlining items to watch for was long, basically from head to toe, any cancers that could occur were to be watched out for by frequent annual testing (example, breast MRI and mammogram annually from now on), more colonoscopies, etc. Been self isolating since March due to COVID. My doctors don’t want me to take any chances.

Welcome @jocelynk. I agree with @penn1023 and would be interested in what conditions and side effects your doctor advised you to look out for. Are any of them currently on your radar? You stated that your radiation was in 1981, how long after did you have your heart attack?

That’s terrible news. Can you tell us generally what things radiation caused? Glad you are still here.

I have had many issues from the full body mantel radiation that I received in 1981 to stop Hodgkins Disease. The Survivor Clinic at the U of MN provided me with information the had regarding other items that I need to watch for in my life due to the radiation. It was terribly depressing. Unfortunately I received this after my widow maker heart attack so I had no chance to be aware. Heart attack was determined to be from a combination of radiation and stress from my extremely stressful job. None of my current doctors ever thought I was a heart attack candidate otherwise as my arteries were totally clear.

If you would like to talk, let me know. I’ve had many other obstacles from the damage too, but still here!

I was put on Sutent (a targeted chemo drug) after I was diagnosed with renal cell cancer in 2008. It was rough, but Sutent was considered the gold standard for RCC. I had a minor heart attack in 2014 and the doctors attributed it to Sutent. I was immediately taken off the Sutent, which concerned me at first because the drug was keeping my cancer in check. But my RCC has been in remission since 2014, even without the Sutent. I do, however, get regular CT-Scans and MRIs to make sure the cancer has not come back. Susan54

@inali, my apologies for the tardy reply. I recommend that you ask for a consult with the cardio-oncology clinic. You obviously have unresolved questions, or at least the need for more information to make an informed choice that is right for you. I'm not completely apprised of the care provided by the cardio-oncology clinic. But I do know that Mayo specialists work together as a multidisciplinary team of doctors. In this case oncologists and cardiologists. Please do call and inquire here http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63 or through the patient portal.

I'd appreciate your letting the group know what you find out.

Ok I had a clean angiogram. I will ask for a CCS.

Hi Penn, No a CCS is not the same as an angiogram. I did learn that. CCS is non-invasive and shows images of Coronary Calcium and plaque in your arteries. You then are given a Coronary Calcium score that is an objective measure of how far along your "hardening of the arteries" is. An angiogram, I believe focuses more on images of blood flow through your coronary vessels. It does not, to my knowledge, specifically show the Coronary Calcium/plaque pictures or quantify by a score your level of "clogged arteries". I refreshed my memory on angiograms by skimming a Wikipedia article on what it does and doesn't do. The CCS is considered by most Drs. to be the best predictor of heart attack risk according to numerous articles I have read.