What's the longest someone could live with mild 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.

OK, let's address this realistically. You have mild CHF. Congestive heart failure DOES NOT MEAN YOUR HEART IS FAILING. It means that it is not pumping blood as efficiently as it should. This is not an automatic death sentence by no means. The statistics you have read most likely are so high due to the fact that most people with CHF are elderly. Relatively speaking, you are young. The most important areas to concentrate on are your dietary habits, taking your medications as directed and exercising as much as your tolerance levels and doctors indicate. Do not allow stats or others to make you feel as though death is suddenly upon you. I know people who live near normal lives with this condition. As for your other health problems I can't elaborate. I don't know your history. I am strictly speaking here about the CHF. I wish you the very best and hope live a long prosperous life.

Whoa! Mild CHF can be controlled with a combination of dietary changes and medications. Provided that you are compliant with both, you should be ok. I wouldnt write yourself off as being part of the 10 year survival plan. You wont live forever, however, I am sure that once your illness is under control and then taming the CHF monster, you should be alright for a little while. Good Luck

Heart failure, also called congestive heart failure, is a life-threatening condition in which the heart can no longer pump enough blood to the rest of the body.

Heart failure is not always apparent. Some people in the very early stages of heart failure may have no symptoms at all. And others dismiss getting tired and being short of breath as simply signs of growing older.

One of the ways heart failure can be identified is to measure the percentage of blood that is pumped out of the heart during each beat. This percentage is called Ejection Fraction. In a healthy heart, 50-75% of the blood is pumped out during each beat. Many people with heart failure pump out less than 40%.

Heart Failure is a condition that reduces the heart鈥檚 ability to pump blood. It can result from a heart attack, untreated high blood pressure, coronary artery disease or another problem.

My father was hospitilized with CHF a month a go. He was discharged and re-admitted to another hospital where he stayed for a week and lost a total of 38 pounds of fluid thanks to large doses of Lasix. He is the epitomy of a problem patient, smoking, eating unhealthy and not caring. His Drs tld him that if he complies with his diet and medication regiment he can live another 15 years and he is 74. A friend of his had the same problem in his 70's and today he is 95 years old and still living and doing great. CHF is not a death sentence, it is a warning for a lifestyle change. You are young, if you are following Dr orders I am sure you have long happy life ahead of you. Please take care and good luck!!!

Many years.
Older people live with chronic CHF for 10, 15 or more years. Drug induced cardiomyopathy is more severe, but sometimes reversible if the drug is stopped. I would speak to a cardiologist before taking anymore advice from an oncologist.

In people with severe, life-threatening illnesses, it is a balancing act. You have to try to treat one thing without causing or aggravating another. Never just go by one specialist's opinion because he is centered on caring for you in one area and solving one disease. You need to look at all aspects of life and health in choosing treatments. Look at how many people die from cancer treatment side effects rather than the disease. You have to have a whole balanced approach.

I wish you the very, very best. Get evaluated by a cardiologist and become wise and frugal in healthcare plans.