During chemotherapy, don't ignore any discomfort; talk to the medical team if you have any questions.
Various side effects are inevitable during chemotherapy. Some are just uncomfortable, while others require special attention.
I have hereditary anemia, and my body is usually used to it, so I hardly feel anything. However, during chemotherapy, besides feeling extremely tired, I would get a little breathless when getting up and moving around. When sleeping at night, if I lay on my left side, I could clearly feel my heart pounding, and it even felt a little uncomfortable. Eventually, I had to turn to my right side to sleep more soundly.
Because the cranberry (AC) chemotherapy drug can affect heart function, an echocardiogram is usually performed before starting treatment to ensure the heart is functioning properly.
However, because I have anemia, I was unsure whether my symptoms were caused by anemia or related to my heart.
After finishing my cranberry treatment, I continued wearing a wearable health device and noticed that my heart rate would occasionally become suddenly faster for a few days. I provided the records to the medical team and asked if further testing was needed.
After reviewing my records, the nurse arranged for a cardiac ultrasound and electrocardiogram (EKG), and also referred me to the Cardio-Oncology department.
The cardiologist then arranged for a MyZio heart rate monitoring device, which was delivered directly to my home. I wore it on my left chest according to the instructions for two weeks. If I experienced any discomfort during this time, I could press a button to record it. Two weeks later, I sent the device back to the company for data analysis, and they provided the report to the cardiologist.
Finally, based on the results of the cardiac ultrasound, EKG, and MyZio monitoring, the doctor determined that my heart was fine. Although everything was normal in the end, this series of tests actually made me feel more at ease, and I no longer had to constantly worry about whether there was a problem with my heart.
This experience also made me realize more deeply that during chemotherapy, if my body experiences any unusual symptoms, I shouldn't endure it or speculate. Telling the medical team about the symptoms allows them to determine if further testing is needed. This not only provides an opportunity to detect problems early but also reduces my anxiety and gives me peace of mind.
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