Angina and breast cancer

Hi Shax, so sorry you have all these issues, I had a left sided mastectomy which had spread to my interior chest wall muscle and probably the external skin, it was very obtrusive. However, had a mastectomy which has turned out to be very successful! I had chemo and radiotherapy as well, but I didn’t “need” to have either of those (I had a borderline Oncotype score which allowed me to choose, I chose to have it). Not sure what obstacles your heart condition presents, is it the anaesthetic that could cause problems? There are ways round that, the anaesthetists are very skilled and will make sure your risks are minimal. You need to give yourself every chance; I know doctors aren’t always right, but they’re the best chance we have and we’re lucky to have the best experts in the NHS. Weight up the benefits and risks, usually the benefits win. Speak to your team honestly with your concerns, and remember, they have to tell you about potential risks, but they’ll probably be very low risks. Lots of luck xxx

Hi Mazz , I have narrowing in 3 arteries as we speak, I also have irregular heartbeat.. the consultant has said the anesthesia will weaken my heart more than a healthy person so the risks are extremely high for me.. I'm not really so worried about the actual surgery. I'm worried about the recovery as I'm high risk for a stroke,  heart attack,  bleeding etc etc..and I could still die within a year from heart attack..so in my head I want to know EVERYTHING about the before and after but not getting any answers..Weighing up the options ..Either I have the surgery and have everlasting problems and forever need 24 hour care..or don't have surgery and carry on enjoying life whilst I can before it spreads.. I'm just in a dilemma at the moment..x

I don’t think anyone knows the answers! The doctors are very cautious about giving “false hope”, although I think it’s obvious that surgery will be more risky for a person with heart problems. My niece has a congenital heart problem, but, ironically, she’s had loads of surgeries! Because they’ve deemed it to be to her advantage??….. it’s a difficult bridge to cross. You need to remember that the doctors have a responsibility to tell you the worst case scenario, but if they thought 100% that it wasn’t worth the risk they’d tell you! If they’re giving you an option, I think there’s hope for you, they’re just covering themselves! Ultimately, the decision is yours. A very difficult one for you though! Best of luck to you, give it lots of thought and don’t give up… xxxxx

Thank you for your reply.. they didn't tell me everything I had to do my own research.. My cardiologist has warned my surgeon that the surgery alone could make the arteries block off and cause a major heart attack..I just don't understand why they won't give me chemo but they're willing to put me under major surgery that can potentially kill me off..I'm sorry I don't mean to sound negative and yes NHS are remarkable.. its just a hard choice to have to make..sometimes I think to myself your just being a baby go get it done.. other half of me is like why would I want to cause  more major problems that will come afterwards from anesthesia and surgery itself..I actually can't find anyone with pre existing heart problems that has been through this..I would love to hear their journey and outcomes..

There are definitely people on this forum with underlying heart problems! I’m sure they will reach out to you! There are lots of lovely people on here! Keep posting xxxxx

Thank you mazz for listening..I will keep searching for some answers , and my thoughts are with you all , take care xx

It's such a difficult choice. If you are stage 3 is it because of size and nodal involvement or because it had spread to the skin? I was fine before and after my mastectomy - no pain and it healed well, and many women are fine.  It's more common to have issues from reconstruction to be honest though,  and i wanted to wait. They are really good at tailoring the anaesthetic- I said to the anaesthetist that I was really dizzy and sick for a day after my previous one and he mixed up a different one for me (I saw him rummage in lovely old wooden drawers to find what he wanted!) which was much better. It's a personal thing,  but if you feel you have an excellent one then I'd personally take the risk rather than let it spread,  but that's just my opinion.  My sister had breast cancer and it returned 15 years later as stage 4, which went to her lungs and she died the following year as she refused treatment.  It's all about personal choice and personal risk. Chemo can cause permanent heart damage,  and I have some issues after 4 EC, so know! It doesn't always work either.  Have they offered a second opinion for you,  or given you any data on benefits of everything? X

Hi I am stage 3 because of the size of the tumour and because it has spread to the skin.. No other options have been put forward to me or either any other opinions. Unless somebody has pre existing heart problems before life of cancer and mastectomy nobody would understand my fears or choices.i don't get no help of my nurse as she never really answers my questions , they don't tell me everything..so I feel alone in my decisions..I lost my brother to cancer in June this year he didn't refuse treatment they stopped it as he was to ill to take anymore..

My brother had heart problems at time he became ill he had palpations etc and he still had chemo,  I know they alter the dose etc .. if my tumour say was inoperable, then surely they're would have to be other options available for me I'm already on the hormone therapy , but everytime I ask for other options all they say is surgery.. if I could find someone in here that has the same problem as me and hear their outcome I guess it would put my mind at rest.. they've booked me in for surgery for 23rd August so I'm running out of time x

Hi 

For cancer , breast cancer in particular , surgery is the cure. Chemo is a to kill off any random cells etc , and is given for incurable cancer to extend a persons life , so chemo wouldnt cure you , only the surgery would be able to do that , so whilst you are still curable that is why the mastectomy is being offered , it is actually quite a routine operation as breasts arent connected to any major organs etc. 

Mine was an overnight stay in hospital , think I was in surgery about 2 hours and I had an implant  as well. The anaesthetist is the one who is in charge of your body whilst you are under , the surgeon is doing the operation so can you ask if you can speak to the anaesthetic team so they can go through what the operation will entail? 

Jo x