My mother has lung cancer.  She has it nearly 1 year. They only gave her 6 to 9 months, but she is still with us, thank god, but she is having heart palpitations, not when shes stressed, at night when she goes to bed, is usually when her heart races, she says its all over the place, and feels like its coming out of her chest, which then does make her stressed. I want to know if this is part of her condition with the lung cancer, does it happen with alot of lung cancer sufferers??
Any form of cancer increases the need for oxygen, a healthy heart compensates by beating faster and stronger, this forceful beating of the heart gives rise to subjective feeling of palpitation.  Also, secondary factors like decrease in hemoglobin (anemia) , infection and other extra cardiac factors may increase the oxygen dwmandHowever there may be many reasons like some extra beats or irregular rhythm, just because of changes in the hemostasis of the circulation.  So an EKG and a consult with a doctor who can physically examine her, is strongly suggested to at least rule out reversible factors. Regards Chat Doctor.