Radiation and Pacemaker

I have been recently diagnosed with a small breast Cancer (devastating to say the least) I have had a lumpectomy and now waiting to see about hopefully not Chemotherapy but probably >>>Radiation.
Has anyone had Radiation on the same side as the Pacemaker? Is it done? Not able to find out until Radiation appointment and see them but no appointment yet and I would love to hear from anyone has had Radiation of the same breast as they have their Pacemaker.
Help please.

7 Comments

Go read...

by donr - 2013-02-08 04:02:12

..."Cancer with a pacemaker." Find it by using the search button, top right corner of home page. A lady named "Marshall" posted it. I wrote two discussions of Radtherapy for her. For you the entire thread should be interesting.

I have a PM & did radtherapy for Prostate Cancer. I talked w/ a lot of women in for follow up radtrherapy while I was going through my course of destruction. I survived 9 yrs on 9 Apr of this year.

Don

Radiation and Pacemaker

by Phyl. - 2013-02-08 04:02:18

Thank you so much Don and AngrySparow.
I will go read now.
I am beyond pleased to find I can talk to people about it.
It was by chance I went this year (because of my Doctor nagging) as I had lapsed with the Mammo. I know as many others will say "it is such a shock to even be asked to return for a second one but devastating to hear it is (hopefully was cancer)"
Thanks again.
Phyl.

Chemo

by Texas54 - 2013-02-09 04:02:57

I understand that if you have to have chemo there are types that do not affect your heart. If you need chemo be sure to ask your oncologist about this. I did not need chemo but if I did my breast surgeon said they have a type that works that does not jeopardize your heart condition . This is fairly new. I live in Houston where we have one of the well known Medical Centers. My Doctor presented my case to a medical group meeting and found this out. This was in April 2010. I am sure your radiation will be done very carefully so it does not affect your heart. I ended up with a scar on my lung but my breast cancer was on the right not the left so my heart was not affected. I want to tell you that my breast cancer saved my life as I did not find out about my heart condition until I did my pre-op. I have a compete left bundle block and cardiomyopathy. What a shocker! Double wammy for me that week. The Cardiologist said I must have had it for a long time due to the damage it had caused. I was lucky to catch the breast cancer early like you. I started heart meds before my surgery and just had a ICD implanted a little over a week ago. Let me know how things work out for you. It is amazing how medicine can advance so quickly. I bet since 2010 there are even more friendly chemo drugs that should you need it will be available.

Chemo

by Texas54 - 2013-02-09 04:02:58

I understand that if you have to have chemo there are types that do not affect your heart. If you need chemo be sure to ask your oncologist about this. I did not need chemo but if I did my breast surgeon said they have a type that works that does not jeopardize your heart condition . This is fairly new. I live in Houston where we have one of the well known Medical Centers. My Doctor presented my case to a medical group meeting and found this out. This was in April 2010. I am sure your radiation will be done very carefully so it does not affect your heart. I ended up with a scar on my lung but my breast cancer was on the right not the left so my heart was not affected. I want to tell you that my breast cancer saved my life as I did not find out about my heart condition until I did my pre-op. I have a compete left bundle block and cardiomyopathy. What a shocker! Double wammy for me that week. The Cardiologist said I must have had it for a long time due to the damage it had caused. I was lucky to catch the breast cancer early like you. I started heart meds before my surgery and just had a ICD implanted a little over a week ago. Let me know how things work out for you. It is amazing how medicine can advance so quickly. I bet since 2010 there are even more friendly chemo drugs that should you need it will be available.

Radiation and Pacemaker

by Phyl. - 2013-02-09 05:02:01

A great read Don and great things have turned out so well for you. Thank you for taking the time to give me some help.
_______
Thank you Texas54. You were lucky to find out about your heart due to Cancer and coping so well.
_______
I just do not know if I can have Radiation on the same breast at 12 o'clock spot on the breast which is very close to my Pacer. I will just have to wait until the Radiation People let me know to go see them. I am 3 and 1/2 weeks post op. Lumpectomy so healing well and just want to find out what is next :) I am lucky not in the Lymphs. and apparently not detected in the margins.
Thank to all for you replies.
Phyl.

Therapeutic radiation and cancer

by Truga - 2013-02-09 06:02:38

You might find this article interesting and helpful. Go to the bottom to read about radiation and cancer. See: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Arrhythmia/PreventionTreatmentofArrhythmia/Devices-that-may-Interfere-with-Pacemakers_UCM_302013_Article.jsp

Therapeutic radiation and cancer

by Phyl. - 2013-02-09 07:02:24

Thank you Truga. It is a worry what to do in many cases with a Pacer as seems such a lot can affect it.
Changes living a bit to read all that which most of us just expect we are o.k. when reading through all of the above.
I just hope I can have Radiation to the same breast as the pacer although I need the radiation at 12 o'clock so in a line with it. Then again maybe I do not really need Radiation and it is overkill.
SO difficult to make decisions and what to do isn't it.
I wonder does the Pacer in some cases cause breast cancer? What can we do - not much hey. I can see I just have to wait for the appointment as everyone is different.
Thanks again folks.

You know you're wired when...

You can finally prove that you have a heart.

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