Heart Transplant after Chemo induced Heart Failure

Hello,

I don't know where to post my story, so please let me know if I should move it. Here goes! I was 49 years old, in great shape and without a family history of any cancer.

11/2020 found lump in right breast
12/2020 diagnosed with triple positive, multi focal IDC and at least two nodes
1/2021 began chemo - AC THP
5/19/2021 last chemo

05/24/2021 I received news that MRI showed complete imaging response to treatment. Then I went in for a regularly scheduled echo (because of Herceptin) and my left ventricle ejection fraction was 15 percent. I was taken to the ICU and discovered my organs were in shock failure. I knew I was very sick, but I thought it was from the chemo.

I spent the first couple of weeks in CICU while they hoped my heart would begin to heal on its own. I was told I was not a candidate for transplant because I had not completed cancer treatment. I was not a candidate for any kind of device, either. I was being kept alive on a heart pump that had been inserted through my groin so I was completely bedridden.

They believe it was the adriamycin that caused my heart failure. It's known to be cardio toxic, but they had never seen someone react so strongly and so quickly. I was not improving and if something didn't change, I was going to die. They told me I would not make the drive home to die when I asked if I could go home with hospice.

My heart was not getting any better, but my other organs had recovered. After being in the hospital about three weeks, my oncology team and cardiology team decided to try and get me on the transplant list. The transplant board was not inclined initially, but the tumor board was able to convince them that I had an 85 - 90 percent or greater rate ofsurvival at 5 years. I went through the very involved transplant work-up and I passed. I also had a PET scan which showed no evidence of cancer.

I was listed on June 22nd and was top of the list. I received my amazing gift less than 48 hours later.

They tell me I am the first in the nation to receive a heart transplant without completing cancer treatment, and I am so thankful they took a chance on me.

I had my lumpectomy in October and my pathology came back completely clear. I started Tamoxifen and Herceptin again in January. We monitor my new heart very closely because of the Herceptin. I am doing better than the doctors expected and I hope to live a long life with my new gifted heart.

Love to all breast cancer warriors,

B