MUGA and Echo-does everyone have both?

bluewillow

Hi ladies-- I need your help!

I have two more out of 12 weekly Taxols left to go, plus I am taking Herceptin w/chemo, then will have H alone until Nov. 2008.  I am scheduled for a 2-D Echo next Tuesday, and found out today that the day after on Wednesday, I am to have a MUGA scan.  Does everyone have both these tests and can anyone give me their experiences with them?  I have had color echos before, but not the 2-D, and I have never had a MUGA, so I have no clue about it or what to expect.  Is the MUGA painful and/or uncomfortable, or are there are preparations I should make in advance for either tests?

Thanks for your help!

Mary Jo

janet11

I always had MUGAs until I started going to a cardiologist (I had to stop Herceptin due to low LVEF).  MUGAs are ok, but it still means you have to get stuck (because they draw blood, add nuclear stuff to it, then give it back to you).  Cardios are so much more comfortable and non-invasive.  From now on, if my onc wants a MUGA, I'll schedule an echo instead.  I'm glad I have a choice.

Janet 

DebbieB

The Muga is more accurate than the Echo from my understanding but the Echocardiogram should give him the information he needs.  I'm one of those who developed heart damage from the chemo (my onc didn't do mugas or echos!).  When I ended up in the hospital the cardiologist first did the echo, then he did a muga scan and then he did the heart catherization.  Since then he has only done echos.  The cardiologist only did the heart cat to determine how much damage I had and whether I had blockages but the test also shows a more accurate ejection fraction.

bluewillow

Hi ladies and thanks for your help.  So, do you think having both an Echo one day and a MUGA the next day is overkill?  It sounds like it to me, but maybe I'm just test-weary, like everyone else... 

anneshirley

Hi, maybe just this once do both since the echo is non-invasive--i.e., no sticks.  One thing, though, about an echo.  If by any rare chance the technician suggests injecting a contrast, I'd suggest you say "no," as echo contrast can be dangerous. But without the contrast, an echo is a piece of cake, really, much easier than the Muga.  The Muga, aside from injection, is also easy and no preparation for either.  I stopped doing Muga's half way thru herceptin, as I was concerned about so much radiation. Did the same doctor order the two tests, or is it two different doctors.  If the first, you might ask, why the two tests? And if the latter, you might alert both of the two different tests.  Hope you get great numbers.

mke

I had one echo, and several mugas.  You do get some pokes with the mugas, but after that it's nothing.  I actually fell asleep during one.  Both back to back seems a bit excessive, you might ask why.

Anonymous

Well Im not sure of the difference.  My ONC always orders a Muga scan.  They inject you with radioactive stuff.  I thought the hardest part of the test was keeping my arm above my head and not moving.  And the coldness and fear that goes along with laying in that cold room wondering what the test is gonna show.

Myrajuc

I have about 6-7 more Herceptin every 3 weeks then I'm done with one year of it.  I also had Taxol with Herceptin for 10 weeks, then I stopped Herceptin to go for a 2-month radiation.

I've been getting the MUGA every 3 months. Actually they should have taken before you started on Herceptin, so they can get a baseline. I guess they can do that before you start on "H" alone.

I only had an Echo when the isotopes (dye) for the MUGA was not avaialable at the hospital. But my onc prefers the MUGA.

They're both not bad. Echo is a lot easier. No needles, no dye. It's just an ultrasound, a tech telling you to breathe in and out, hold your breath, for 45 minutes.

The MUGA they get your blood.  They mix it with the dye.  Then as you lay on the table with the scan (like an MRI, have you had that?) they inject the dye and your blood to do the test.

I'm a baby with needles, but after a year of treatments, an IV isn't so bad.

Email me if you have more questions, okay.

Take care, you can do it, MUGA is the easiest part of our journey.

Myra

mjucutan@yahoo.com

bluewillow

When you get scanned for a MUGA, are you in an enclosed machine, like an MRI?  If so, I'm in trouble.  There will be no MUGA for me because I am terribly claustrophobic.  I never thought to ask about that.  I am really irritated that the cancer center hasn't told me anything to expect with either the echo or MUGA.  I guess they're doing both to sock it to my insurance company.

Thanks for all the info!

mke

No you are not enclosed.  But there is this machine that is very close to your chest.  Sort of a plate like thing on an arm that is positioned over your chest for 10 or 15 minutes, then they reposition it.  3 views I think.

Your head isn't under it so you will probably be OK.

bluewillow

Thanks, mke.  As long as I am not enclosed, I will be fine.  Whew, that's a big relief.  I'm sure my heart rate will go up though, but I'll make it!

bluewillow

Hi everyone!  I thought I'd pop in with an update about the Echo and MUGA.  Thanks to your responses, I was moved to question why both tests were ordered, and it just so happened that someone got mixed up and ordered the MUGA by mistake.  My dear chemo nurse told me that since I'd had previous echos, I would continue to have echos and not MUGAS, for comparison purposes.  Whew, what a relief!!! I was really dreading the MUGA since it is more invasive, so I go tomorrow for my Echo- piece o' cake!  Good thing I spoke up!

Thanks again and take care, everyone!

MJ