Appointment for 'NM Cardiac Ejection Fraction' - what to expect?

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Hello ladies,
I am to start chemo in about a month and was given an appointment for NM Cardiac Ejection Fraction next week. According to my onc they need to check my heart to be in good shape for my 3 FEC + 3 Tax. Oh, that already makes me feel better… not.
Anybody else had this kind of scan and can enlighten me?
Thank you!

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Hi Eve76, sorry you find yourslef here.
The MUGA scan is a relatively simple process and those having Herceptin should have one every 12 weeks to keep an eye on the heart function. I think it is the E in FEC that requires them to monitor your heart.
They inject you with a small amount of radioactive material so that it shows up on the scans. You then go off for about 30 mins whilst it travels to where they need it. After 30 mins they stick monitors on your chest, hook you up and set the scanner going. It is noisy but not at all painful and after about 20 mins it is usually complete.
You have to avoid pregnant women, babies and small children for 24 hours, after this time the material will have decomposed and your body will have got rid of it.
The macmillan site has a good page explaining all about it. Good luck with your journey.

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Eve
not sure what type of heart scan youre having, but ive had regular echos throughout my treatment. I had my first befor my FEC and then one befor my T/Herceptin and then after every 5 Herceptins ever since.
Mine have just been ultrasound heart scans. Where they put jelly on you ans scan the heart function. Totally painless.
Its the E in FEC (Epirubicin) that can damage the heart so they need a baseline before they give it to you.
Hope this helps
Mandy xx

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Hi Eve76
I too have scans every three months because of Herceptin. Those are ultrasound scans as mangochutney describes.No pain and really nothing to fear and it doesn’t take longer than about 20 minutes, 30 mins at most.
I will be interested to hear once you have had your scan whether it was an ultrasound or something else.
Good luck.
Verity x

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Thank you, ladies, for taking the time to answer! :slight_smile:
Not sure how I feel about being radioactive for 24 hours… Anyway, I will let you know once it’s done what exactly there were doing to me.
Eve xx

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Just wanted to add that if you have recently had surgery on th left side it may well be a bit uncomfortable when an ultrasound is being done.All the best. Diana x