Cancer Treatment Induced Heart Disease

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!

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

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?

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.

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”.

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.

Yes I had total body radiation for Hodgkins in 1981, heart attack in 2014. Learned a lot since then about all the damage caused by radiation but not much before.

Hi Inali, after a long absence from this group due to other things, I finally saw my primary care Dr. and have a plan for moving forwards re: my RIHD. I see that you DID go ahead and have the triple valve surgery 5/18 and were still hospitalized as of 6/11. I hope that you are doing better now and might even be home by this time. Know this was a difficult decision. You are courageous. Please keep me/us updated with how you're doing. Marti

After two weeks at Mayo, I was discharged home. Within 3 days I was struggling to breathe and wound up admitted to my local hospital for another 9 days. I’m finally home and improving every day. There were two surgeons who performed my 8.5 hour surgery during which my aortic and mitral valves were replaced and my tricuspid was repaired. Recovery has been a bumpy road, but I think I’m finally on the mend. Just don’t ask me yet if it was worth it 😊

I chose tissue valves rather than mechanical, and must take Coumadin for three months. Apparently the risk of blood clots following this type of surgery is significant. My greatest challenge lately is finding a dosage which keeps my INR in the 2-3 range. Turns out that is not easy - at least not for my body.

I have some arrhythmia that didn’t exist before the surgery, but other than that I’m told that my heart’s in good shape and my valves are working beautifully. The hope is that over time the arrhythmia will resolve on its own. I look forward to the day when I feel better than I did before the surgery. For now I’m happy to have progressed enough to shower, dress, and toilet on my own without assistance. A lengthy hospital stay definitely destroys your dignity. It is good - if nothing else - to once again feel like a grown-up.

Hi Marti,
The stents did not prove to be an impediment to my recent open heart surgery. Since my RCA is 100% blocked, the surgeons hoped to be able to do a CABG while in there. While they harvested a vein from my left leg in preparation for the bypass, in the end they were unable to do it. Apparently there was nothing to bypass to. The vessels are either too small or too occluded. Anyway, my point is that - in my case at least - the existence of stents seemed to have no bearing on the surgery.