"It's always something..." (Gilda Radner)

weesa

I've recently been diagnosed with LBBB--left bundle branch block--, an electrical block in the left ventrical of the heart which causes the two sides to not beat in unison. My doctor thinks it was caused by the adriamycin and/or the radiation. I have not yet met with the cardiologist who set up the testing. My appointment with him is for May 9th!

 I seem to be asymptomatic--it was initially discovered in a routine EKG. So, in the meantime, I am wondering if anybody else has faced this. Naturally I have spent the weekend with Dr. Google, who has been quite concerning.

Just when I was starting to put my bc experience on to one of the back burners of my brain. Always something.  Oy vey, Weesa

sugarplum

Oy vey indeed - I read that book over and over, years before I had cancer, marveling at how any human being could endure such physical/emotional torture and still maintain a sense of humor. I know you will retain yours as well even facing a challenge like this. I don't have any pertinent info for you but hopefully others will. I'm also due for an EKG prior to my upcoming hip replacement and will try to brace myself for any unusual news (I do vaguely remember the oncologist reeling off the risks of the various treatments but at that point, what choice did we have but to proceed?)

I'll be watching for your future posts - I actually am meeting with a (hip) surgeon on May 9th myself!

Just one of your many admirers....Julie

lkc

Hi Weesa. Yes it is always something that's for sure.

I know its  not something you want to deal with, but let me try to explain. EKGs can pick up a lot of abnormalities but they are  not fully diagnostic... a  full cardiac evaluation is always needed. There are varying degrees of LBBB, all are treatable, and yes it could be from the Adriamycin. I am wondering if you had a cardiac workup before you  received the  Red Devil. Anyhow, I am sure you'll get sorted out.  IF LBBB is the definitive diagnosis, the prognosis is  better then what you've  already gone through with BC. Let us know how you Cardio visit goes, and stop googleing.. too much erroneous, scarey crap out here.

Anonymous

Weesa - my question I'm wondering about is how did you notice or "what" did you notice happening with your heart or health that led you to this LBBB business?  It's not something I've ever heard of and many of us had Adriamycin chemo and had to have the muga scan beforehand.  Wishing you good news at the cardio doc appointment !!

Anonymous

Weesa - erase my earlier question.  I see you just were doing a routine EKG, but isn't it strange you had no symptoms of irregular heart function. 

weesa

It was only after I completed my dose dense chemo of adriamycin and cytoxin that I learned it was the standard of care to receive some type of cardiac workup beforehand. My onc only listened to my heart periodcally with a stethoscope. Many women mentioned having a muga-- which I have never had. So when I got a new regular doctor I mentioned this to her, and she had me go for an echocardiagram in 2009; it was normal.  Recently for a routine physical she had an EKG done and that was when the LBBB was noticed for the first time. Since EKG's are not very accurate for LBBB I just completed two days of tests at a cardiologist. First, on Friday I had a chemical stress test (because the treadmill stress test often gives false positives for LBBB) and today I went back and had some type of radioactive tracer injected and went back under a machine that looks a bit like an open MRI but isn't.  I am supposed to get the results in a day or two. Will let you know!

Thanks so much for the comforting posts. IKC, you kept me functioning somewhat normally today! (As normally as I ever do.)

And sugarplum (Julie) you are so right--what other choice do we have at that moment except to proceed?

peacestrength

Weesa, you have comforted and provided advice/hope for many of us - thank you.  

Actually, I'll be at Gilda's club tonight.

It does feel like it's always something - let us know how you are.

GemStateGirl

Hi weesa, a friend of mine was recently diagnosed with LBBB when doing some tests for a respiratory infection she had.  I believe she ended up doing the same tests you did to see what was going on.  I don't believe she had to do anything to treat it.  She said the doctor told her a lot of people have it and don't even know it.  She was concerned because she was just about to go off on a 3 week trip to Morrocco and the doctor told her not to worry and sent her off on her trip.

Hope yours turns out to be nothing to worry about.

Kristinaj_29

I have been having swelling in my legs (finished chemo 6 months ago, radiation in Nov).  Swelling kept coming back, so my oncologist suggested to have my heart checked for a  "baseline."  Just went this morning and the Cardiologist said he wasn't impressed with the sound of my heart, so I am scheduled for tests tomorrow.  It sounds like a leakage.  So, I'm with you there and I hope your tests turn out OK and no surgery is needed.  Grateful that we are in a time when our ailments can be repaired (well, most of the time).  We have to focus on the positive.....even though it seems like its one thing after another, we need to be happy that our cancer was caught and there is a means to treat it (no matter how bad it sucks).  I'm grateful that chemo was there, had to do it and will deal with whatever side effects come my way.  What other choice do we really have!?  Stay strong and keep living. 

weesa

Thank you so very much!I feel a whole lot better. There is always so much comfort available--for free-- here at the stage 3 forum for the asking.

I still have not heard anything--think I will get a call tomorrow from the cardiologist's office but not necessarily from the guy himself.

I will let you all know. As I am one of the oldest rats in the stage 3 barn, being out of treatment 11 years, I might have some useful information about long term treatment side effects, so I will be sure to pass everything on as accurately as I can.  I will be your canary! (How's that for a mixed metaphor?)  Weesa

Bugs

Weesa, yes, please keep us posted.  Sounds like your drs are one the ball with this dx.  Hope they are not restricting your wine intake?

Michele2013

Hi Ladies,

Just chiming in. In January I noticed some irregular heart beats. I was sent to a heart doctor, he put me on a heart monitor for 2 weeks and the results came back as PVC with a weakened heart muscle. No doubt from the red devil. Dr said he thinks my new meds he gave me can reverse it.

Hugs,

Michele

weesa

Bugs, I have always heard red wine is good for the heart, so I am drinking up our good stash of old vintages we tucked away in the basement.Wouldn't want my husband's next wife to enjoy them without me.

Michelle, I suspect the Red Devil is behind my problems too. Why do they keep giving it to us? I have read that it it is not effective with er+pr+

What the heck is pvc? I thought it was a kind of plumbing pipe. Weesa, becoming cheerier and a but tipsy.

peacestrength

Weesa - I was just told by another MO that the red devil is not efffective on er+ and pr+ bc.  I agree, why the heck are they continuing to give this chemo - Ugh.  Anyone else read or hear this too?

Anonymous

Yup I have heard that also about Adriamycin not effective on ER/PR + BC.  Has anybody asked their oncs this same thing???

Leah_S

I haven't heard that Adriamycin is not effective for ER+ BC. I have seen women on the Stage IV forum have good results with it. So maybe he jury is still out.

Leah

encyclias

All the articles online state that ER+ patients do not respond to chemo as well as ER- cancer patients.  They do not specify this drug or that drug as working better or worse; they only use the term 'chemotherapy.' 

Carol

Leah_S

"As well as" is a comparative term, not an absolute term. In other words, it doesn't mean ER+ cancer doesn't respond at all the chemo, it means there is less success. So if a drug helps 75% of ER- patients but only 65% of ER+ patients, it doesn't mean there aren't a lot of patients who benefit. No drug benefits every cancer patient, even if the cancer has the same receptors.

Please realize the numbers I picked are completely random. I just wanted to clarify that there is a difference between "doesn't work" and "doesn't work as often".

Weesa, sorry for hijacking your thread. I hope your tests show that whatever is happening to your heart is innocuous.

Leah

encyclias

weesa, the second test you had, the one with the radioactive tracer, sounds exactly like the MUGA scan I had just before I started chemo.  It basically measures how efficiently your heart is pumping. 

Good luck for good results.

Carol

weesa

So, I picked up a copy of the report the cardiologist sent to my gp. Since she referred me to him, he would not give the report directly to me, I had to get it from her. Sometimes medical protocol seems peculiar to me, but I obliged and got a copy from her secretary. The report is very technical, but googling the language, it seems I have no fixed or reversible perfusion abnormality, normal left ventrical and right ventrical size and systolic function,no high risk scintigraphic findings. The conclusion was "low probability for finding underlying CAD" (coronary artery disease). But the report mentioned I still have LBBB. So, I am supposed to see the cardiologist on May 9th to find out why in the past four years I developed LBBB. Am definitely going to ask about the radiation after mastectomy and adriamycin and taxotere-- which causes nerve damage. If I learn something I will definitely report it. I think it behooves us all to remember we might acquire heart trouble as an artifact of treatment somewhere down the line, and identify it while still treatable.

 All in all, good news. Glad I didn't drink up all the good stuff. Need to keep some blood in my alcohol stream.

Love to my stage 3 girls! Weesa

mary625

I believe that PVC stands for post ventrical contraction, but not 100% sure.  I was found to have them when I was waiting to be sedated for the chemoport to be put in.  They are a very benign condition, but I often have to explain it or just make sure it's known before a procedure.  

My husband was found to have a RBBB a couple of weeks ago before his surgery for prostate cancer.  He had to go to a cardiologist and get clearance.  There's no real explanation as to why he now has it.  It also seems to not have anything to do with coronary artery disease.  He doesn't have consistently high blood pressure.  However, the right and the left bundle branch blocks are different conditions, but I just wanted to mention that I can happen for no reason at all (he has never had chemo).  It will also have to be explained to every anesthesologist in the future.  

dutchiris

PVC stands for premature ventricular contraction.  Sometimes they just happen and are benign.  

tangandchris

Weesa-hope that you get this figured out (hugs)

I have never heard of this book by Gilda, but I'm going to order it. I just read some reviews on Amazon and it looks like a good read.

It IS always something!!

lkc

Hey Weesa, Just checking in to see how you  are doing. From what I read from what you posted.  I am happy to see It's a good report.

The reality is AC is hard on the heart, but it kicks' Cancer's A** and is in the  recommended

arsenal for us  Stage III gals, er/pr positive and negative.

Anyway, Weesa I had to laugh when I read about the red wine in the basement. Drink up! (I swear by my red wine)

pupfoster1

Stay off Dr. Google Weesa!  Hoping this stays innocuous!

Sharon

weesa

My long-awaited appointment with the cardiologist is finally coming up this Friday. I will be asking him if there is a connection between my recently diagnosed problem and my radiation and chemo, especially the red devil.

I will be sure to report back to all of you. You all certainly need one more thing to worry about!  Weesa

GraceB1

My first thought when I found out that I had BC was not that it was going to kill me, it was oh s+++ now I can't have my hip replacement surgery for a year. I already had the pre-op apt scheduled with the ortho dr. Now that I'm past chemo, SMX, and rads I have another apt scheduled on May 13. The only way I kept walking through the winter was all the steroids they include with chemo. Now that they're gone I'm really having trouble again. I hoping the herceptin I'm on won't slow things down, will be asking the MO tomorrow. Who knew that I'd be looking forward to major surgery? I'm due another MUGA in 6 weeks because of the herceptin but I guess they'll want to do it before the surgery rather than after. I just want my old life back even if it's now quite the same.

lkc

Hi Grace B. Herceptin won't interfere with you having your hip replacement. It's easier then AC and T.  You'll get your albeit changed Life back soon! 

Octobergirl

Weesa, My thoughts will be with you tomorrow. Thanks for all the support you provide on this site. Your posts are always timely, informative and, best of all,  humor-laden! And thanks for reminding us of the importance of sharing post-treatment issues and complications. I think many of us are just entering the stage when heart and other organ issues will rear their ugly heads .  

Ps Content is not edited; I just accidentally hit the edit button, duh.

weesa

My meeting yesterday that I waited a month for to discuss my stress tests with the cardiologist was pretty uneventful. He told me there was absolutely nothing wrong with my heart-- that it was a "good, strong heart" and he could not detect any damage from adriamycin or radiation. The only thing at all remarkable about it was that the organ had decided to send the electrical impulse to the left side in an alternate route, resulting in a left bundle branch block (LBBB) and needed to be checked out because sometimes LBBB's happen because of heart disease. Other times they just happen, which seems to be my situation. At any rate I will always have a concerning EKG from now on so it is better just not to have them.

Being Friday, I collected the girls from my office and we went out and celebrated my continued indestructibility with some pomegranate martinis,resulting in a pretty substantial hangover today. You know I think it is all that sugar you ingest in a drink like that rather than the vodka.

Welp, glad I did all that, even tho the first 30 seconds after they injected the chemical stress test gave me a pretty abysmal sensation-- because I always wondered how my heart had fared thru treatment. For unknown reasons my onc did not give me a Muga before the dose dense adriamycin, and at the time I did not know enough to ask for one. Only after my eight dose denses were over did I read a Muga is the standard of care prior to chemo. It's always something...

Love to all my girls here, I'll try to write something funnier next time....Weesa

peacestrength

Excellent, Weesa!  So good to hear