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Does Radiation For Throat Cancer Cause Atrial Fibrillation?
Question: Prior to receiving 47 treatments of radiation and intermittent chemo 6 years ago for stage 4 cancer of the throat from exposure to agent orange, along with countless chest x-rays, my occasional flutter turned into serious afib. I basically ignored it until 7 months ago when I started losing consciousness in restaurants, hotel lobbies, airports and at home spending a lot of time in ICUs. Now, I am being told that there is no correlation between radiation and afib. I also have had my ability to be clear in my thinking process in the last 5 years.
Is. There any cause and effect between radiation and chemo with regard to afib?
XXXXXXX
Is. There any cause and effect between radiation and chemo with regard to afib?
XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
no it does not seem to be related
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
Though radiation can cause heart rhythm disturbance like afib that is when the heart comes in the radiation field. In your case RT was given to the neck so I don't think it is the cause.
Chemo can also cause these problems but it is transient. It should not persist after so many years.
Hence I feel that this is unrelated to chemo or RT.
Hope this helps. I will be available for follow up.
Regards
no it does not seem to be related
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
Though radiation can cause heart rhythm disturbance like afib that is when the heart comes in the radiation field. In your case RT was given to the neck so I don't think it is the cause.
Chemo can also cause these problems but it is transient. It should not persist after so many years.
Hence I feel that this is unrelated to chemo or RT.
Hope this helps. I will be available for follow up.
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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