5 Years Post Radiation - Left Breast

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koshka1
koshka1 Member Posts: 678
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hi, Just wondering if anyone has had issues to their heart since their Radiation.

I am currently having issues with high blood pressure. Not certain if it is stress related or maybe some damage from rads. I am almost 6 years out.

Does anyone have any experience with this.

Hugs Kosh

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  • Egads007
    Egads007 Member Posts: 1,603
    edited February 2014

    Sorry for the late reply, but just saw your post now. I'm only a four months out of rads, 6 months out from chemo. My first blood test stunk! High cholesterol, triglycerides and high blood pressure. My family doc thinks treatment had a definite effect on all these things. Granted I gained 15 lbs while on chemo and was getting chunky before diagnosis. I invested in a rowing machine and within 2 weeks my blood pressure went from 140/87 to an average of 115/74.....amazing the difference that cardio makes. We'll see how the blood results go in a few months.

    Check with your docs on getting into a cardio regime and then go for it if they give you the green light. I'm absolutely stunned at how quickly things improved, and I'm feeling a helluva lot better to boot!

    Much luck! Hugs!

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  • TB90
    TB90 Member Posts: 992
    edited February 2014

    Blood pressure is more related to the health of your arteries than with the heart.  I would think that damage to the heart due to rads would be more likely to show up as an inefficient heart (shortness of breath, edema, etc.) rather than high blood pressure.  High blood pressure makes the heart work harder to get the blood circulating, so can cause heart damage.    

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  • TB90
    TB90 Member Posts: 992
    edited February 2014

    Koshka:  I spent last night researching cardiotoxicity from breast cancer treatments and I am starting rads next Thursday.  First, I scared the poop out of myself and then saw the stats that suggests these things are very rare.  But I did notice that there can be damage to our arteries where the rays hit the chest.  Perhaps if an artery is affected, your blood pressure could be affected.  I have decided that any cardiovascular symptoms I have post radiation, I will demand to see a cardiologist and inform them of my treatment.  I would suggest that you do the same yet there are many, many reasons that could be causing your high blood pressure.  It is particularly important that we do everything right to ensure a healthy heart and now I am so glad that I managed to get my cholesterol way down with diet an exercise and weight loss prior to going into radiation.  I understand your concerns but remember that stress does contribute to blood pressure.  Good luck and blood pressure can be well controlled with meds. 

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  • koshka1
    koshka1 Member Posts: 678
    edited February 2014

    Hi, thank you.

    1. I work out and I am a fitness instructor as well I teach yoga so I have that covered.

    2. I have cut my coffee and trying not to load up on salt as I seem to love salt.

    3. My blood pressure is not in the range where I need meds "yet."  I am trying to lower it with different herbs and stuff. I am using Fish Peptides, Hibiscus tea and Dr Oz said beat juice is good!  lol

    4. Cholesterol and HBP do run in my family so we shall see how that plays out.


    I did have my heart checked by a cardiologist about 5 years ago. The reason was a murmur showed up on my ECG prior to surgery and they suggested to have it checked. The cardiologist said it was so mild that I would not worry about it can't even pick it up on a stethoscope either.  He did tell me about radiation that if there is damage it would start to show after 5 years so who knows.  If my BP can't be controlled I will go again and get it checked out.


    Be strong and thank you for the posts!

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  • TB90
    TB90 Member Posts: 992
    edited February 2014

    Koshka:  Sounds like you are doing everything right.  Sometimes our genes fight us and eventually we have to ask for a little help from the pharmacy.  But with all you are doing, you are giving yourself the best possible opportunity to live a long and healthy life.  Enjoy it and appreciate your efforts and try to stop worrying.  You deserve it. Now it is my time to worry :) Hate the thought of rads.  Ugh 

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  • koshka1
    koshka1 Member Posts: 678
    edited February 2014

    hi... Don't stress over rads. It's easy. Takes more time getting dressed there than the treatment. Use your lotions. After the rads put some 100% aloe on boob. Then later the lotions. Rest a lot. The techs are always nice and they make it easy on you. I did 16 rads and 4 boosts. Let me know how it goes!!!!    

    Hugs Kosh

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