truelori
10-13-2007, 01:08 PM
congestive heart failure (CHF)? I am 38 years old. I am pretty sure I am in the beginning stages of congestive heart failure induced by chemotherapy with an anthracycline (Adriamycin). Without going into too many details about my history, I am wondering if someone can tell me what the life expectancy would be for someone in this situation, regarding the CHF, not regarding other illnesses.I guess I didn't realize until today how fatal CHF is. I thought for some reason if you controlled all the lifestyle factors and did what you needed to do that you could live a very long time. But for a 38-year-old, ten years is not a long time! And I read today that 70 percent of people with CHF die within ten years. This was very upsetting to me. Is this a statistic for severe CHF or just ANY heart failure?Thanks in advance for any knowledge you have on this topic.I wanted to add that if I do have CHF, so far it is mild. I had MUGA scans relatively recently that showed that my EF was normal. But I am going to ask to have another one, as I am having edema in my feet and ankles.But my blood pressure has pretty much been normal. Pulse is elevated, but I have had a high pulse for many, many years (way before chemo). Before the chemo I was exercising regularly and I plan to again after the chemo is over. (I'm not physically able to do so now). I already eat a low sodium diet.