Many of you are wondering and worrying about what happens when cancer spreads, such as when cancer spreads to the brain, or when cancer spreads to the bones.
I know there are lots of great places online for you to find answers from an oncology standpoint to these very tough questions you face.
First of all, I am so sorry if you are going through all of this.
Second of all, let me give you some thoughts from a cardiology perspective.
When cancer spreads, this sometimes can lead to adjustments in your cancer treatment, such as the medications selected, or radiation.
Some of these medications can affect the heart and blood vessels in various ways, such as the "red devil" used to treat breast cancer. When chemotherapy or radiotherapy affects the heart, this may go unnoticed for 5, 10, 15, or 20 years before heart problems manifest.
Decades after receiving chemo treatment or radiation, or both, the heart can fail, have rhythm problems, be stiff, constricted, or weak, or you may have a heart attack. These can be really scary to think about. No one truly understands how you feel like you do.
There are support groups you can be a part of online, and you can also find commmunity here at My Heart Spark.
Reach out to your primary care provider, hematologist/oncologist, and/or cardiologist today to learn more about heart health, in the setting of having ever been diagnosed with cancer, and make sure yours is under control and managed well.
We are always also here to help at My Heart Risk in Cancer. We are honored to point you in the right direction to find community with us and/or with others. Reach out today.