adriamycin heart damage

bostonnorthwest

Hello,

Just dx with heart damage due to adriamycin use in 2005. I was dx with Stage 1 bc, ER-PR- Her2+++. Had lumpectomy, chemo ACT then 10 months of Herceptin (had to stop twice due to low muga scores). Radiation. Had genetic testing Pos Braca 1 so had bilateral overies removed then bilateral mastectomy with silicone implant reconstruction.

Everything seemed ok until 2024 when I started to experience extreme fatigue and weight gain. after much testing I had cardiac workup and heart damage was discovered, believed to be from adriamycin. Hard to swallow as I'm 19 years out, frustrating that a drug I used to help prevent a reoccurrence is now affecting me.

Wondering if anyone else is experiencing this and what is the game plan going forward?

Thanks

maggie15

Hi @bostonnorthwest, It’s too bad that nobody in your situation has responded but most people 19 years out from a breast cancer diagnosis would not be checking this site. I’m sorry that chemo caused heart damage that is just appearing. Unfortunately toxic treatments are necessary to kill the cancer cells and all kinds of side effects, both early and late, come with them. Declining the toxic treatments increases the chance of distant recurrence. If that happens more toxic treatments are needed and those will only buy time. It’s a catch-22 situation.

Part of the problem is the public perception that breast cancer which is caught early can be “cured.” Exact numbers are hard to come by but about half of those treated for breast cancer develop at least one serious side effect. I ended out with several from radiation six months after completing treatment.

In my experience medical specialists treat conditions caused by cancer treatment often enough. It’s not fun to live with mbc or another serious medical problem but IMO it beats the alternative. I hope you find a helpful cardiologist and there are effective treatments available. Until they develop that elusive vaccine to prevent cancer people will end up in these circumstances. All the best going forward. Hugs for you.