Heart Cancer Treatment?

50 year old husband, healthy as an ox until april.  Diagnosed w/angiosarcoma of the heart.  He has been through hell. Now under the care of taussig cancer treatment center at cleveland clinic. He is being given abraxane right now.  On no other meds at all. Weight loss scary, trying to keep some meat on him.  Anyone out there hearing of treatments for this rarest of the rare cancers? Tumor too big to remove and part of it hangs down inside the heart and breaks up a little bit every time his heart beats. Right ventrical is involved.  Heart seems to be functioning at about 75% to 80% on it's own.  Taking lots of supplements.  B,e, mushrooms, cruciferous veggie supps.,etc.  Any other suggestions?  God bless you all out there that are reading these and offering help.  The miracle is that we are here at all.  Treasure every moment.   Joyce

I'm so sorry to hear about your husband's cancer. I wish I could provide some insight, but don't know if I can.

My mom was diagnosed with primary cardiac B-cell lymphoma in January--very rare and, as you may have experienced, a mystery to her doctors. A tumor nearly the size of a tennis ball filled her right atrium, affected the tricuspid valve and spilled into the right ventricle. The tumor was throwing off fluid like crazy--once they discovered the problem, the doctors drained over a liter of fluid from her pericardium and another 400 mLs a few days later. Probably much like you, we (and her doctors) were at a loss for treatment of this rare and complicated cancer. Fortunately she was referred to a wonderful oncologist and cancer facility. We had considerable success with slightly modified chemo (the tumor is now the size of your thumbnail) and are now trying to determine if radiation therapy is possible and safe. The hardest part has been trying make treatment decisions that will kill the cancer but still leave her with a healthy heart. She's 55 and we're certainly not ready to give her up. :)

I don't really know anything about sarcoma and its complications and treatment. I feel for you and your family as you face a rare cancer. It can be difficult, but keep fighting. I know there are a lot of people pulling for you. Good luck and keep us posted on your husband's progress.

On 5/20/2008 joycel wrote:

50 year old husband, healthy as an ox until april.  Diagnosed w/angiosarcoma of the heart.  He has been through hell. Now under the care of taussig cancer treatment center at cleveland clinic. He is being given abraxane right now.  On no other meds at all. Weight loss scary, trying to keep some meat on him.  Anyone out there hearing of treatments for this rarest of the rare cancers? Tumor too big to remove and part of it hangs down inside the heart and breaks up a little bit every time his heart beats. Right ventrical is involved.  Heart seems to be functioning at about 75% to 80% on it's own.  Taking lots of supplements.  B,e, mushrooms, cruciferous veggie supps.,etc.  Any other suggestions?  God bless you all out there that are reading these and offering help.  The miracle is that we are here at all.  Treasure every moment.   Joyce

My husband who is 32 was diagnosed with cardic angiosarcoma last Feburary. Your husband's case sound all too familiar. We are from Kansas and had to move to Texas in a rush so my husband could recieve pallitive care at MD Anderson. We are on our 4th chemo treatment and his body is having a hard time...major weight loss, pain, nausea, fatigue, and extreme edema in his legs.   It has been very hard to see my big strong football playing husband go through this, and the worst part is that we have two children 8 and 5 who have to see their dad so sick everyday. I pray for you and your family and want you to know you are not alone in your fight! God Bless, Melissia