Warriorwilko,

I'm so glad I found your post because I thought I was going mad!! I've had my 4th and 5th round of Docetaxel and after both sessions ( roughly around 6 days after ) I've experienced the worst palpitations and felt that my heart would explode through my chest. 
I spoke to my oncologist about it after the last round and  he didn't seem too concerned but there's nothing like hearing about someone who's having/had the exact same treatment and side effects so thank you!!! 
Hope you're doing well and sending big virtual hugs. 

So glad I found your post. I had my first chemo on Monday and four days later my heart rate was running at 100 all the time. I take beta blockers anyway and increased the dose which keeps the heart rate in the 80s for a while, before is creeps up to about 100 again.  I have coronary heart disease and it's been very frightening.  Desperate to stay away from A&E as they tried to give me completely the wrong treatment for vomiting earlier in the week.  I was hoping the heart rate would improve but 4 days on it's still racing and the moment I try to do anything it's up at 120 or more, which is near my maximum heart rate (I'm 72 years old). 
from first diagnosis things have gone wrong - I was given wrong results and inappropriate treatment, leading to delays in surgery and think I was given the wrong dose of cyclophosphamide so was very ill for 2-3 days post chemo.  At present I'm seriously considering refusing further chemo because of all the problems I've had and because I'm seriously allergic to several antibiotics 

Hi everyone, 

Just thought I'd update everyone. I finished cancer treatment in January and I am still on beta blockers and still have tachycardia. I have been referred back to cardiologist but due to Covid delays don't know how long that will be to get an appointment as I am not an urgent case now as the beta blockers are managing the situation. I was just wondering if anyone has got any further with investigations on whether the chemotherapy has caused this tachycardia? The oncologist seems reluctant to say it has, he told me it's not a known side effect but I mentioned I'd been on this post and other people have experienced the same. I am getting very frustrated with this situation. I was a fit and healthy (apart from cancer) size 8 exercise 5 times a week and very fit female who now can not exercise without risking a heart attack. It's so strange as I don't have any sign of damage to the heart so no one is taking this matter seriously. 
 

it would be good to hear from anyone to see where you all are with this issue. 
 

Thanks 

Just wondering if this thread is still live as having completed a course of chemotherapy I am now suffering from surges in my heart rate whenever I try to do anything and also wake at night with them.  I also have neuropathy in the ends of my fingers and toes.  Much like others in this thread all tests on my heart show no problems so my oncolcogy team seem unconcerned.  However I find it distressing as it severely limits my quality of life and wondered if anyone on this thread had made any further progress in discovering the cause and any permanent solution other than beta blockers.

Hi,

I made the original post.  Really sorry to hear that you're going through this.  

After I'd posted, I had a massive pulmonary embolus, and suspect that in my case the high heart rate was the result of a big clot forming.  I have had a conversation with a good cardiologist who said tachycardia post chemo wasn't uncommon and usually settled in a few months.  I had my chemo in July and my heart rate took about 3 months to settle down afterwards.  It is frustrating when the chemo teams don't seem to grasp how worrying and debilitiating it is when you can feel your heart racing, and the cardiology people don't seem to have an answer either.  

I only had one course of chemo (as that nearly killed me I decided to take my chance with the cancer!) but had neuropathy which lasted several weeks.  I do hope that yours clears up soon and that your heart rate comes down.  

Good luck!

Cathry72

I'm glad I stumbled upon this thread, as I'm having similar elevated heart rate issues.

My poison: Docetaxel
Sessions: 2/6

I was over half way through my second chemo session when I decided to have lunch. 5 minutes later, a medic noticed my bright red face and found my heart rate was above 100bpm.

She cut the chemo feed and gave me something which had my heart rate back to normal within 20-30minutes. All the while I felt absolutely fine, and rather resented having to interrupt my lunch 'break'.

For some time I have been taking & recording heart related readings, but since this incident I've taken a closer look at my heart rate at times during the day when I've felt tired or when I get a sudden hot flush.

My resting heart rate first thing in the morning (i.e. sitting up in bed drinking tea) seems normal, typically: 60-70bpm.

My resting heart rate during the day is typically in the 90s. When out walking it could be as high as 130bpm, at which point I feel tired and like to sit down.

Although I can't check my blood pressure when out walking, my high heart rate does not seem to coincide with an increase in blood pressure. Diastolic, systolic and pulse pressure (the difference between dia & sys) all seem pretty normal. As yet I haven't experienced that 'pounding heart' sensation that I believe some of you are getting.

There doesn't seem to be a correlation between my hot flushes and my elevated heart rate.

Just before each chemo session I take a big dose of Dexamethasone, and after I'm on Domperidone & Omeprazole for about 3 days. Then there are those 5 injections (can't remember the name) and on top of all this, I'm also on Zoladex for at least the next 2 years.

With so many medications flowing through my body, its anyones guess what the side effects might be. Although Docetaxel is mentioned several times in the posts above, there are at least 2 other chemo treatments mentioned.

Thankyou for your reply.  I spoke with my oncologist yesterday and he is going to try and refer me to a cardiologist. Hope you are OK now. 

Hi All

I seem to be suffering from the same problem, im on a fairly intense Chemo regime and have noticed my heart rate has risen sharply, from around average 67 to about average 95, i have had a heart scan and number of other tests and there appears to be no heart problem but the constant high rate does affect me, even climbing the stairs puts it around 130. My oncologist isnt too concerned meantime as its a strong regular heart beat. However i can affect my ability to sleep and i some time feel palpatations.

It appears to be yet another side affect of Chemo

Im on chemo regime CBOP BEP,

John

JohnRM, sorry to hear about your elevated heart rate, but as you will see from an earler post, I had a very similar problem.

Its now 7 months since my final (6th) chemo session, and 3 months from my last (37th) radiothepary session. My 'resting heart rate' has not returned to pre-chemo levels (was typically 55-65bpm) and is now high 70s (typically 75-80bpm). When I climb two flights of stairs in our house, the rate typically rises to 100-110bpm (previously it would have been around 130bpm).

So it looks like you may need to be patient and hang on in there!

I'm also still suffering with swollen feet/ankles but not nearly as bad as it was. This is also a chemo related cardio-vascular problem,

You may be interested in my notes: captainbodgit.blogspot.com/.../cancer

Good luck!