Heart question for people on Taf/Mek

Hello Christine. My husband was in Taf/mek earlier this year and has never has heart issues. About 2 months into the treatment, all the sudden he was in constant afib. I asked our oncologist is this could have been due to the Taf/mek. Not sure we will ever know if that was the cause. It was just too much of a coincidence not to question it. 

I had some rapid heart rate issues after being on MEK (I was only on MEK… no other BRAF drug). I was sent to a cardiologist, who found nothing after ultrasounds and making me wear a holter monitor. That was 3 years ago. I still have some minor issues with it when I'm exercising (I've always worn a heart rate monitor when I bicycle… even before the cancer). I haven't been able to nail down a causitive factor for it. When it zips up too high, I slow down… stop if need be… and let it drop to a more normal pace again. I doubt I'll ever really have an answer to what the cause is, or it's relation to MEK… but that is most certainly when it began. 

Since yours was noted on a scan, it's entirely possible that it was an incidental finding by a very attentive radiologist. Have your cholesterol levels been checked? Cancer screening scans may have made for a nice early catch on an unrelated issue that could have become a problem further down the line. Some weird things are seen on CT's that have nothing to do with our melanoma.

From the very first catscan the radiologist noted aorta atherosclerosis.  And initially this was my main health concern until I also had lung mass that turned out to be melanoma.  This was a condition I had that had nothing to do with melanoma.  When i went back to my GP due to the xray  report she said we all get this as we get older.  I didn't follow thru due to the other diagnosis.  Swellling in feet and ankles, do you have water retention?  Get off all salty foods.  And yes get your cholesterol checked. 

From the very first catscan  , or was it the xray. the radiologist noted aorta  arteriosclerosis. And initially this was my main health concern until I also had lung mass that turned out to be melanoma.  This was a condition I had that had nothing to do with melanoma.  When i went back to my GP due to the xray  report she said we all get this as we get older.  I didn't follow thru due to the other diagnosis.  Swellling in feet and ankles, do you have water retention?  Get off all salty foods.  And yes get your cholesterol checked. I was pprescribed statins years ago but because i was borderline high i chose not to take it due to reading it is not good for your liver.  I had just started to take it after this test, but quit when my liver ast/alt is elevated per oncologists orders.