Follow up re my husband's cardiac issues, and treatment change

[CancerConcierge]

I would like to thank T911 again for his recommendation to see a Cardiac Oncology Specialist.

We met with a Cardiac Oncology specialist at Mayo yesterday. She spent a good hour with us. He had an Echo yesterday as well, which showed progression of his aortic root aneurysm from 4.7 cm (Dec 2024) and 4.6 (Aug 2024) to 5.1 cm ... it also showed moderate to severe aortic valve regurgitation, also worse than Dec 2024, just last month.

He is scheduled for a CT Angiogram to confirm Echo findings and to evaluate CAD in LAD (248 calcium score just in LAD)

Doctor doubled his blood pressure medication, as BP is still unstable at home. (167 in office, higher than it's ever been in a doctor's office)

Due to rapid aortic root progression and moderate to severe aortic regurgitation, he may be looking at surgeries sooner than we anticipated.

She has referred him to the Mayo Vascular Team and to the Clinical Genomics Dept to rule out a Connective Tissue Disorder.( possible Marfan's syndrome, though he doesn't have a lot of the signs)

We met with his MO Dec 13th, 2024 and subsequently decided to discontinue Abiraterone/Prednisone due to concerns re higher cardio toxicity of Abiraterone. MO was pretty much neutral regarding the decision. Husband is still taking Orgovyx.

We are on pins and needles since he is now at much higher risk of aortic dissection or ruptures.

My everyday cancer anxiety for my husband is now morphing into extra fancy cancer/cardiac mega anxiety..I feel so bad for him.

He is having a sigmoidoscopy next week to have another APC treatment for the radiation proctitis, still experiencing regular rectal bleeding.

Early February, he has a cystoscopy to monitor him for bladder cancer. (bladder cancer dx 2020)

A lot going on

Thanks so much to this community for your support and wise counsel.

[HikerWife]

I'm so sorry you're both having so much to deal with. You've kept your sense of humor with your "extra fancy" anxiety comment - good for you (I will need to remember that phrase!). Wishing you all the best, and all the answers and solutions. Keep us posted.

[CancerConcierge in reply to HikerWife]

Thanks for your kind words!

[NecessarilySo]

I had heart blockage, had a stent placed in 2008. that solved my cardiac blockage issue pretty well. Diet seems to keep my cholesterol down to 150, mainly I stopped eggs and beef. Blood pressure was pretty high, sometimes 200/120 at midnight. That was two years ago. I lowered BP with Lisinopril and Amlodipine. Lately it is normal. Hope this helps.

Sorry, I know nothing about aortic aneurisms.

[CancerConcierge]

Thanks for your response. Good to hear about a successful response to treatment!

[Conlig1940]

I am 85 . Recently had an Echo , EKG, Doppler Carotid & Two day Treadmill Nuclear Stress Test . Results OK - No change in 6 years .

My blood pressure test is ' Six Results " with the doctor or nurse absent . Typically your 1st blood pressure result at the doctors or hospital is higher with them present . THE WHITE COAT SYNDROME .

You are unconsciously stressed when visiting your doctor or hospital . The average of the 6 is more accurate .

[CancerConcierge]

Thanks for your response ..

Yes, he generally has a little elevated BP when in a doctor’s office but it was much higher than it normally gets with a doctor, also BP not stable at home( he checks 3 x a day)

Congratulations on your good results!

[j-o-h-n]

As an American male who's 74 years old...... his condition is par for the course. Use caution with blood thinners....(When it rains etc.) Slow and Easy does it!!!

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[CancerConcierge in reply to j-o-h-n]

That is sad...Do most 74 year olds need heart parts replaced?

Blood thinners would be a life time commitment if he gets an artificial valve replacement...Early days ..he needs CT Angiogram first... then surgical consults if indicated

[j-o-h-n in reply to CancerConcierge]

It is sad............. (from Google/Bugle) In 2022, the average life expectancy for males in the United States was 74.8 years:

My Dad passed away from a heart attack at 66 and my brother in law was 72 (that was in the 1950's and 1980's).

I don't mean to be theatrical but just factual and I wish all of us men could reach President Carters age of 100. My brother Bill made it to almost 89 and right now I'm 88. I think he made it because he did not have a sense of humor and I attribute my age in having a sense of humor The saying is "You're damn if you do and damned if you don't". Give my regards to the other half of a great couple and don't forget the hugs and the kisses .

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[CancerConcierge in reply to j-o-h-n]

I hope my husband lives as long as you! He doesn’t believe he has much time … we met late in life and I am greedy about wanting more time with him … we have so much fun together and are such a good fit!

Thanks for your response j-o-h-n with the great sense of humor 🤗

[j-o-h-n in reply to CancerConcierge]

I predict that your dear Husband ________________________ <----- fill in his name, will make it for another 20 years. So start saving up for that wonderful cruise to romantic Greenland. BTW old age for men can really be fun, especially if they have a wife as wonderful as you.

Note: There's a Greek word which describes me, it's MANGAS.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[CancerConcierge in reply to j-o-h-n]

“Mangas was a label for men belonging to the Greek working class, behaving in a particularly arrogant/presumptuous way, and dressing with a very typical vesture composed of a woolen hat (kavouraki, καβουράκι), a jacket (they usually wore only one of its sleeves), a tight belt (used as a knife case), stripe pants, and pointy shoes.” ???

Another 20 years would be great 😊

[j-o-h-n in reply to CancerConcierge]

Not in my or my relatives household..... for us Mangas = Cool dude....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[j-o-h-n in reply to CancerConcierge]

P.S. In Albanian households Mangas could mean conniver.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[CRPCMan]

Definitely focus on the heart issue and yes, the ADT treatments pull on the heart. They told me I was in heart degeneration when I was on Orgovyx for less than a month so now I do it intermittently with my natural ADT protocol. My EF fraction went from 50% to 35 %. When I stopped the Orgovyx it went back to 50% in a month. A good Echo is key so you get the most accurate results.

[CancerConcierge]

I think the Echo he received at Mayo was good...the cardiologist also looked at the Echo images during our consult(she has an Echocardiogram specialization)... what she saw was basically what the doctor who wrote the Echo report described.

Thanks for your response.