Community Member
a year agoHas anyone had heart problems after completing radiation therapy? I finished 21 treatments at the end of August. I'm scheduled for a colonoscopy Nov. 8th with sedation but my EKG shows possible Brugada syndrome amoung other irregular issues? Waiting to hear back from a cardiologist to find out if I can have the procedure. I have delayed starting the anastrozole pills (1 mg) due to worry over side effects. I have osteopenia and active on the farm and don't want to develop osteoporosis.
Accepted Answer
Heart complications can occur after radiation therapy, and many community members have shared similar concerns about cardiac monitoring and follow-up care. It sounds like you're taking the right steps by working with a cardiologist to evaluate your heart health before the colonoscopy, and discussing treatment decisions with your medical team is always wise when weighing potential benefits and risks.
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Community Member
6 months agoWhich breast? Did you have prior issues?
Community Member
6 months agoInside of left breast, lumpectomy was done 5/20/24. Radiation therapy in August - 21 treatments to breast. Onco score was 21, tumor was stage 1 and grade 3. I just found out I got an appointment with my husband's cardiologist 11/5/24, so hopefully I will find out then if I'm cleared for surgery for the 11/8 colonoscopy. There was a shift from the EKG done in May (rated as borderline) to the one done last week for this surgery called "abnormal ECG".
Community Member
6 months agoI have stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma. Two tumors but caught early. I am on anastrozole for a month now. I have noticed extreme fatigue and hair loss. Still it is better than chemo. Surgery scheduled November. Sorry about your heart. Did chemo do that?
Community Member
6 months agoIt is to be determined later if radiation will be needed.
Community Member
6 months agoI developed regurgitation issues on 4 of my valves. Nothing drastic but wasn’t there prior to treatment. My aortic valve regurgitation worsened over a 3 month period in between echocardiograms. Still within normal limits but worsened. Cardiologist has me coming back in 6 months to keep a check on it.
Community Member
6 months agoWow. I have a cardiologist appt. Next week, my first ever and I'm age 65. I have developed a cracky cough after breast treatment and had been diagnosed with asthma prior to my breast cancer discovery. Cough is definitely different after completing radiation treatments. Hopefully lungs aren't involved. I now have four new specialists so far since being diagnosed...
Community Member
6 months agoCancer treatments hopefully cure our cancer but other health ailments are seeming to arise from the treatment. I have 3 new specialists. Oncologist, Lymphedema specialist and a cardiologist. At least my cardiologist is a very handsome young man.
Community Member
6 months agoPatty M I had no chemo just radiation treatments. I saw my Oncologist last week, she's not happy that I haven't started taking the anastrozole pills. The EKG threw me for a loop. Waiting to discuss that with the cardiologist.
Community Member
6 months agoKaren, I am seeing a GI Doc, and a Pulmo Doc since radiation. I've had inflammatory Bowel Disease which has worsened but my cough and shortness of breath lead me to pulmonary Dr. I flunked my PFT big time. On an inhaler.
Community Member
6 months agoI had been diagnosed with IBS yrs ago, gave up dairy and avoided irritating food. Was doing good until I got the COVID one and done shot in 202O. Two days later in ER with severe gastric pain was told it's a IBS flare up not the vaccine. So after my breast diagnosis and surgery in May I asked my Oncologist about needing to getting a colonoscopy and she ordered it. Now my EKG is indicating a heart problem after my radiation treatments...
Community Member
6 months agoAnyone on Letrazole having high blood pressure & cholesterol? Mine was borderline before treatment, now on prescriptions to help control both issues.
Community Member
2 months agoHeart complications can occur after radiation therapy, and many community members have shared similar concerns about cardiac monitoring and follow-up care. It sounds like you're taking the right steps by working with a cardiologist to evaluate your heart health before the colonoscopy, and discussing treatment decisions with your medical team is always wise when weighing potential benefits and risks.
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