Anyone on Ibrance and letrozole who also has cardiomyopathy?

Faith-840

I know there is a forum for those of us with chemo inducedcardiomyopathy and BC. I just don't know about others taking the Ibrance/letro. combo. I already had shortness of breath before being diagnosed with MBC and now with the letrozole side effects, it's worse. Anyone else and if so, have you found exercise improves this? My MO and the cardiologist tell me to walk but the cardi Dr. says, keep the heart rate below 90. How do I improve keeping it that low? So if there is anyone else in my situation, I'd love to hear from you and oh, BTW, I'm 75 which doesn't help anything.

Faith-840

just bumping this up in the hopes someone might see it this time.

Faith-840

Giving it one more bump! Anyone else out there

cherylking2005

While going through chemo infusion treatment and radiation for my initial stage IIIB BC it appears that radiation treatment scarred the left side if my heart and the chemo drugs damaged my right heart muscle. It is now only pumping at about 40%. My cardiologist oncologist put me on two blood pressure medications as well as a baby aspirin. I always had relatively low blood pressure - like 108 to 113 over 71 to 73. With the blood pressure medication it has brought my blood pressure Down into the mid to low 80s over the low to mid 50s. Having blood pressure this low is also a challenge as you need to rise from a sitting or lying position very slowly and have shortness of breath so walking any distance can be a real challenge and causes my heartbeat to jump,up,into tachycardia. Ask your dr about a blood pressure medication to slightly lower your blood pressure. Good luck.

Faith-840

Cheryl, I've had high blood pressure since going through chemo 25 yrs. ago and my Heart rate function has been at only about 40% for years. Last year when my cancer came back in my lung and before I knew what it was my PCP sent me for a stress test and then to a cardiologist. At that time my function was about 35% and he put me on a beta blocker carvedilol along with my reg. BP med of Benicar HCT. It keeps my HR in the low 60's and BP still around 130/80. I get very short of breath but no tachycardia . I try to ride a stationary bike 3 X week keeping my HR below 100. However, the SE's of my meds causes SOB.

Faith (in the future)

cive

I was recently diagnosed as having a minor amount of cardiomyopathy and I am on only letrozole. I don't know if that's what caused it, but could be.

cherylking2005

Faith840, ask your cardiologist about adding a baby aspirin to the BP medication. Even though I am on a blood thinner (Xarelto) for life, cardio oncologist added that to my two BP medications to lower my heartbeat. The premise being if my heart does not have to work so hard at beating and the blood pressure is lowered, it may be able to heal itself. Not sure if it is working on healing the heart muscle but it has brought my resting heart rate down to 88 which is way better than the 99-106 that is was. Hard to do anything physical when resting heart rate was that high as it took no time to get it up to racing and tachycardia. Just a thought. Hope you're doing well. Off to see cardi-oncologist now and then next week to MO for xgeva shot and then the dreaded scans and orthopedist to deal with my fractured ankle. It sucks planning your life around doctors appointments. Ugh. Be well and stay string.

Faith-840

Cherylking, I am already on a baby aspirin and my resting heart rate is in the 60's. I guess all my meds are causing SOB but it really gets scary sometimes. I see my MO next week so I will see what his thoughts are. Of course, my mind immediately goes to the tumor in my lung growing. Sure would be nice to be able to keep all the scary thoughts away. My brain keeps telling me that I was sicker last year at this time and didn't know it. So don't worry about this, I'll get through all the Christmas stuff.

Thanks for your concern,

Hugs, Faith (in the future)