32 years old, dx ILC and irregular heartbeats

Cris32
Cris32 Member Posts: 15
edited June 2014 in ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)

Ok Ladies,

I'm over the initial shock of being dx, I thought I had my tumor dx at 2 cm when mine is actually about 7 cm tumor. Supposedly it hasn't spread anywhere as far as the test show. I'm still trying to figure this site out. So, I'm just learning on how to respond to people. I'm about to get my second chemo treatment Thurs. and was just wondering......



Have any of ya'll experienced irregular heartbeats while on tx?!? I have MVP and told the doctor about my MVP. He seemed not too concerned because my mugger scan came back normal. I called the infusion nurse Friday and told her they seem to be worst. She said, I'm not getting enough fluids. I drink water all day!! I'm on Xanax since diagnoses for anxiety. Could that be a factor? Anxiety? Not on the right dose of Xanax? .25 is low? I've never been on so much medication in my life since dx. I'm talking about the chemo and over the counter stuff....but I found before dx I got palpitations before my period but never this bad!! Ugh! Anyone else have these symptoms? I know this isn't like Facebook it takes a while for responses, but I still have yet to find someone around my age with ILC. I tried to start a thread before, but I was new, still kinda new! I see this is more for questions type site then anything huh?



I could be experiencing more palpitations because I know I got chemo again? The infusion nurse wasn't too helpful I hate to say...she told me call my cardiologist. It wasn't related to chemo....I say BULL S**T it was never this bad in the past! Bad enough I got a 2 to 3 in. Tumor in my tit that can't be cut out till after chemo....I got to worry about a heart attack too! That's about how I'm feeling....



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  • lemon68
    lemon68 Member Posts: 684
    edited May 2013

    Hi Cris

    I am sorry you are so young to be having to go through this! I am 44 with ILC also and I thought I was too young, I was shocked to see so many in their 30's.. not fair.

    I didnt do chemo so I cant answer your question but please post in- TEAM ILC Warriors Thread and I promise the ladies there of ALL ages will be able to answer any questions you have. Those of us with ILC usually post there and check reguarly for posts from others. You can then save it to you favorites so you dont have to search all over for responses.

    Sorry your here but glad you found the website, hope you can find the thread and get some answers and support from those that "get it", hang in there, I know its not easy.

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  • Gitane
    Gitane Member Posts: 1,885
    edited May 2013

    Hi Chris,  I hope you don't mind me posting, too.  I'm not as young as you are at all, but I have some other things in common with what you are experiencing.  I have MVP, too.  My onc also said my muga scan was good so I was good to go for Adriamycin/Cytoxan dose dense for 6 rounds.   One of the things they gave me before each chemo was decadron which really turned me into an emotional mess as it wore off and did make my heart race, too.  I had chemo before surgery, too, because I had lots of tumor all over the top of my breast over an 8 cm area.   I had an EKG, because I asked my PCP about it, and everything was O.K. according to that.  I didn't have a cardiologist, though I think it would have been good if I had consulted one since Adriamycin is hard on our hearts.  I think it might be a good idea to go see your general practitioner and/or cardiologist about this.  Also, I'd try to discuss it with the onc, not just his nurse, if at all possible and as soon as possible.  There is nothing wrong with getting three opinions about something as important as this.  It's hard to "wait and see" when your heart is pounding like that.  I can sure understand how you feel right now.  It's not easy.  However, you are not alone,  we are here to help when we can.  Hugs,  G.

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  • mary625
    mary625 Member Posts: 1,056
    edited May 2013

    I had something called PVCs during the diagnostic and preparation process. I never had those before either. I'm quite sure it was the stress. I ended up on the other antianxiety med (Ativan) during most procedures and chemo treatments. The reason I found out what they were was because they had to call a cardiologist down during my port procedure. He said that they were nothing to worry about. I had already had a echocardiogram that was normal, and then had one after chemo which was fine too. This was of course just my own experience, but perhaps you would want to get some doctor to hook you up to an EKG just in case. I'm not sure that it has to be a cardiologist.



    I was 49 when diagnosed, so much older than you, but same size tumor at the outset. It reduced from 7 cm to 2 cm with chemo. I also had the chemo pre-surgery. It's all very tough, I know. It does get much better.

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  • itsjustme10
    itsjustme10 Member Posts: 796
    edited May 2013

    Hi Cris, I was also older than you - in my 40's when diagnosed with ILC, but I didn't have any cardiac problems before, during or after treatment.

    My suggestion to you is to call both your oncologist and cardiologist before your next treatment - there could be some medications they might want you to take before the next infusion to protect your heart and prevent it from happening again. Some chemos are hard on your heart - thats why they wanted baseline tests before you started.  Or, if it is anxiety, your doctors (not their nurses) would be the ones to adjust your dose.  

    Be firm about wanting to speak with the doctor, and don't settle for being palmed off on a PA or nurse or whatever - it's important to find out the cause, and whether further treatments have to be adjusted or if you need more or different pre-treatment medications.

    Good luck!

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  • KerryKR
    KerryKR Member Posts: 1
    edited May 2013

    Cris

    You need to ask your primary Dr or Cardiologist for a 24hr or 48hr holter monitor to look at the pvcs.  This is a heart monitor you take home & can catch anything abnormal.  PVCs (premature ventricular contractions) are quite common, but can be uncomfortable.  I heart monitor can capture how many you are having.  Your dr can also order blood work to look at your electrolytes, mainly your magnesium levels, which might be low.  This can cause more pvcs. 

    I was diagnosed 3 weeks after turning 38, with a 6.7cm tumor.  I was definitely anxious, causing some palpitations.  After all the chemo, masectomy, radiation, hysterectomy, reconstruction, happy to say I am much better now.  I wish you the best.  It is all very scary, but then you get better.  As for the Xanax- ask for it to be increased to 0.5mg.  It will help.

    I am a cardiac nurse, & know it can help with the anxiety & palpitations.

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  • Cris32
    Cris32 Member Posts: 15
    edited May 2013

    Thanks for the responses ladies and BIG hugs:)



    I do read a lot on the ILC threads, and I have opened up the ILC warrior thread a couple of times to see others experiences and questions. I just was too scared in the beginning to join in. and kind of didn't know what I was doing lol I do feel a lot better even though it hard to go through that I do have ladies replying to me and relate to how I'm feeling even though too I wouldn't wish this pain of going through cancer on anyone....this is an emotional roller coaster!!



    I don't mind at all anyone joining in on this thread.I do have a cardiologist because I've had PVC's in the past. I've wore the holter monitors, I've wore the 24/48 hour ones and I've worn the one you have to wear for a month. I notice they get bad right before my period. I don't understand that? They put me on a beta blocker, but it slowed my heart rate so low I had chest pains. I stopped taking them. Like I said I only experienced them at a certain time of the month on the past. They did blood work in the past and said my progesterone levels were slightly raised 2 years before I was dx with breast cancer. I was also told last month I've had my cancer for over 2 years.



    I believe they are more frequent now because of my anxiety levels are really high. I take 2 dexamethasone tablets the day before chemo, the day of chemo it goes in the veins along with the TAC tx. Then I have to take 2 dexamethasone the day after. I take a five day regimen of zirtec in the morning, Alieve, phenergan, zofran, and Zantac the first 5 days after chemo. Then just the Xanax, but I've noticed the low dose isn't helping so I guess I'll discuss this with the onc Wed. Before chemo Thurs. the PVC's don't hurt just really scary. I took the Atavin too in the beginning, but I found it made me too tired. I have 4 kids to still run after. That Atavin knocked me on my butt!! I never took anything before this for anxiety.



    Thanks again ladies for the responses. I'm going to do whatever I can to stay strong and I appreciate all your thoughts and answers. I'm going to also look into drinking more with electrolytes and check on ways to raise my magnesium levels. I had an EKG done and they still went with the tx so I guess I'm just working myself up.....I will talk with them ASAP with my conserns. In the mean time thanks a million:)

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