Muga Scan Got Worse

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Anyone have a decrease in their muga scan # after adriamycin? Sis was 70 pretreatment now having shortness of breath repeat Muga 62. Not sure if that is significant clinically? Does it improve?

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  • kfinnigan
    kfinnigan Member Posts: 1,729
    edited July 2009

    Mine pre-chemo was 66; then #2 muga was 56; #3 was 62 and latest one is 60.  I was told that the normal is 50 so she is doing good!!  I'm on a clinical trial drug that poses heart risk so I get really nervous with these things.  

  • NatureGrrl
    NatureGrrl Member Posts: 1,367
    edited July 2009

    Have you talked to your oncol. about the numbers?   I had a muga last week, and my number went from 52% to 50-point-something percent, a statistically insignificant change.  Doc. said that was normal and to be expected, but that he would have been concerned if I dropped from (his numbers example) 65 to 52.  Your sister's numbers don't show a huge drop and she's still above the cut-off for normal (50%) but the shortness of breath is something her oncol. needs to know about.  At least I know it's on my list of "call the dr. if you experience...."   I would let him/her know soon. Better to let them know and find out it's not a concern than not say anything and find out it's something more serious.   I'm not saying it is --  that's what the dr. is for, to make those judgements -- and I don't mean to worry you -- but I feel sure they'd want to know.

    I was told that the heart usually recovers from any damage after the adriamycin; how long it takes can vary, but the good news is that it does usually recover. 

    Hugs to both of you.

  • concernedsis
    concernedsis Member Posts: 256
    edited July 2009

    Thanks guys. Yeah doc knows about SOB but she also has asthma and weight issues which could be part of it. Her pulmonologist sugggested the muga repeat. She sees her onco Monday. I suspect they will refer her to a cardiologist. Hey we all need another ologist right LOL. A friend doc says they usually stop chemo if the muga drops 10%. I was just curious if anyone has been through it and it was reversible. Her Adriamycin ended in late May.

  • Denali
    Denali Member Posts: 347
    edited July 2009

    My oncologist said a drop of more than 15% is a concern.

  • concernedsis
    concernedsis Member Posts: 256
    edited July 2009

    thanks all. Onco says sit tight no worries for now!

  • basketnut3
    basketnut3 Member Posts: 34
    edited August 2009

    My initial muga was 1 point below normal so I had to have a heart MRI.  It is much easier and the results were good.  My points raised during chemo with the MRI....takes only about 10 minutes for the heart MRI and no dye/radiation put in.

  • concernedsis
    concernedsis Member Posts: 256
    edited August 2009

    thanks basketnut3 - thats a good option to know about. May I ask what kinda surgery you had? Sis tumor large also; shrunk with chemo preop but definately still there. Seeing surgeon September sis still hoping lumpectomy but I am unsure if its an option - then there is the whole reconstruction thing - surgeon said definitely radiation

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