I have a small cardiac tumor and will have a specialist MRI scan next week to find out exactly what sort of tumor it is.I cannot find out much about cardiac tumors and wonder if anyone else has been diagnosed with one.
Is an operation the most likely outcome and which hospitals perform these procedures? I live in Buckinghamshire.
This must be such a difficult time for you. Particularly the waiting time, till you have the investigations and can get more information from your doctors about what they plan to do.
Meanwhile do keep in touch. Others with more similar experience may well message and tell you how they got on.
Thank you Kristin. I know this condition is rare but was hoping someone on this site could help.
I don't know yet but I did have breast cancer about 25 years ago. The MRI scan next week should show exactly what it is. I don't know how long after an MRI scan I will get results so anxiety is increasing all the time. Having got through a seriously aggressive breast cancer I really don't want to have to go through that again.
Hi
Did you have your mri yet?
Sending positive vibes.
Thanks for asking. MRI this Friday. Then the wait for results probably after New Year.
How are you? Was it yesterday? I know it’s very stressful waiting on results.
Hi - Thank you for asking.It was Friday and unfortunately it seems to have provoked my fitst bout of palpitations in 3 months, which is why I am awake at 4.35 am on Christmas Eve. I probably overdid it a bit yesterday shopping and visiting family so will be taking it easy over the next few days.
I’m sorry to hear that. I wish you peaceful days with some rest.
Hi there. I had a left atrial myxoma which is a benign tumour in my heart 2 years ago. This is a rare condition. Did they say that it could be that? I can imagine how you're feeling. It sounds like they've found it early as it's still small. Mine was massive so I had emergency open heart surgery. I felt like I was in a dream and this couldn't be happening to me but everything went well and I was home after 4 days. It took 3 months to get back to work as takes a while to heal. It was 2 years last month and apart from my scar I still think did I really go through that. Let me know how you get on with your scan. It's easier said than done but try to keep busy so that you're not thinking about it too much x
My cardiologist suggested myxoma or fibroelastoma. Either of those would be much better than a malignant tumor. Do you have any info on which hospitals do these procedures? I know specialist centres like the Papworth Hospital do them so does everyone have to go to one of these or do some large hospitals also do them?
You must have had a terrible shock to find yourself in that condition. How did you get your diagnosis? I have had countless test and examinations over past 2 years trying to find out what was causing my symptoms, plus four A&E admissions this year. I was just diagnosed with Bradycardia and A Fib and was expecting to be fitted with a pacemaker when this little devil showed up on an echocardiogram, throwing everything up in the air. Also, while otherwise reasonably fit, I an 75 so in the older range for heart tumors.
My symptoms started during the first lockdown in 2020. I was getting breathless all the time and when I lay down in bed I couldn't get a proper breath. After months of this happening I managed to get a telephone appointment with my doc. I explained it all and I had to go and see him. He said it could be heart or lung problem so he went down the heart road first. I should of been seen within 2 weeks but cardiologist didn't think an emergency so I waited 8 months to be seen. Then another month for tests. First Echocardiogram and that's when he found it and I wasn't allowed to go home. It was the size of an egg and blocking the valve. Was told its a miracle I'm still alive. Sorry for being long winded with the story. I also wore a watch to keep an eye on my heart rate as it was past 150 at some points
I live in Liverpool so I had mine at the Liverpool Heart and Chest hospital which is one of the best in the country. I was admitted to The Royal Liverpool but then transferred so I'd imagine it would be a heart specialist hospital. They need to put you on bypass for the op
Wishing you all the best. I can’t really help with the question, but do let us know how you get on.
Sorry but the only heart tumour I've come across was in my dog. The hardest part is waiting for results. I think you can be reassured that they haven't rushed you in immediately.
Thank you everyone. I will keep in touch and post once I get results.
hi, I’m like Heidi and am 11 weeks post emergency open heart surgery for an Atrial Myxoma, also pretty huge (approx 8cm x 5cm) Apparently it had been there growing for a couple of years according to the surgeon’s estimate. My only symptoms were chest pounding on exertion over the past few months. I’m also Home Counties and was operated on at the Royal Brompton, and could not fault them. It’s a pretty rare type of tumour, but more common in women - so could well be the at for you too. And the good news is that once it’s out it shouldn’t return. Keeping my fingers crossed for you that it’s positive news
Thank you for responding. I hope your recovery is coming along as you would wish and that you are completely better as soon as possible. My tumor is small, and I hope once the MRI results come back I will have some idea of treatment, timescale etc. It is difficult to anticipate so I will just have to sit out over the holidays and hope something happens early in the new year.
Well, I finally had a phone consultation with my Cardiologist last Thursday. It lasted 3 minutes. He told me the MRI scan showed my heart was OK and showed nothing out of the ordinary. I don't need surgery (loud cheer).
I asked about the pacemaker he was planning for me when he discovered the potential tumor in my heart after the echocardiogram. He told me I did not need that, either. He said he would write to my GP and recommend an increase in Bisoprolol to 2.50 mg. I have been on 1.25 mg, because I have hypothyroidism, and Bradycardia and already have a rather slow heartbeat - around 50 bpm.
I mentioned this and he then said stay on present dose. I will have another 48 hour heart monitor whenever they fix me up. He said they would continue to monitor me with checks.
I was rather taken aback with all this and gave myself a day or two to think about it. I decided to try and carry on with increased physical activity and a careful diet (I have put on weight since starting heart meds) and have been pottering on my Allotment for about an hour a day when weather permits, as well as doing usual household chores.
Last night I started palpitations again, which lasted from around 8. 30 pm until around 9 am.
Today I am exhausted and resting, am pale and unsteady and exactly where I was on March 2 last year when I first visited my local GP Practice about it.
I really don't know how to proceed now and feel let down.
Cardiac arrest 
Cardiac rehabilitation at home 
cardiac related mental distress
Cardiac Ablation
Cardiac MRI problem
