They Say That the Heart Sees What Is Invisible to Constitute Nearly Half of All Deaths in the U.S

Close to theHeart

They say that the heart sees what is invisible to constitute nearly half of all deaths in the U.S. the eye. For cancer survivors, the connection Fortunately, advances in treatments have increased between your cardiovascular system and your overall cancer survival rates greatly over the years. However, health is at the heart of the matter. some cancer treatment methods, including those Cardiovascular disease and cancer are the two most for breast cancer, may cause lasting damage to common causes of death worldwide. Together, they your heart, especially if you’re at risk for HEARTCARING cardiovascular disease. According to the American Heart Association, about During radiation, the rate of 12 percent of breast cancer patients over the age of major heart events was found to 65 develop heart problems within three years as a increase slightly with each unit of result of their cancer treatments. radiation used in Cardio-oncology patients. These major heart events Cardio-oncology is a field of study that is dedicated include heart attack, the need to to the link between cancer treatments, such as unblock or replace blood vessels to chemotherapy or radiation, and cardiovascular the heart or death from a disease. The goal of cardio-oncology is to help reduced blood supply to the treat cancer patients without increasing their risk heart (ischemic heart disease). of cardiovascular disease. Only one-third of breast Signs and prevention cancer patients who It’s important that patients visit their healthcare developed heart failure providers to have their blood pressure and choles - within three years of terol levels monitored. Breast cancer patients should treatment visited a refrain from smoking to reduce their risk of cardiovas - cardiologist within cular disease, as well as stay healthy through exercise 90 days of and diet. Patients with other cancers should also be developing heart aware of heart symptoms if they receive chemo or problems. Those who targeted therapy drugs. saw a cardiologist were more likely to receive a Radiation is still an important part of treatment for drug for heart failure. breast cancer, in that it helps to lower the chances Periodic heart that the cancer will return. Women should still take monitoring may What should survivors these risks into account when discussing treatment be necessary for ask their doctor? options with their doctor. This is especially your doctor to If you’re a cancer patient, you important in women who have known risk factors detect any should talk to your healthcare for heart disease. symptoms. provider about your heart risk. It’s important to ask your oncologist Treatment impact on heart muscles How does a In the 1970s, it was found that radiotherapy for breast or radiation therapy team about patient know if the risks before beginning radia - cancer was linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular she’s affected? tion therapy. Ask them about disease. The risk today is now much less. Patients should treatment sites on your body that Breast cancer patients treated with either chemo- be sure to: could potentially harm your heart, and be sure to avoid them. therapy drugs (anthracyclines) or targeted therapy I Keep up drugs (trastuzumab) and then developed heart G with getting problems were more likely to get the problem under

N their blood pressure control by being treated with standard medication I and cholesterol levels checked from a cardiologist. Chemotherapy frequently can I R cause thrombocytopenia (a medical term for low Refrain from smoking to reduce their risk of

A blood count), which can cause difficulty in managing cardiovascular disease I C conditions such as acute coronary syndrome, Stay healthy through exercise and diet

T atrial fibrillation and stroke, and for people with I Be aware of heart symptoms if they receive prosthetic valves. R chemo or targeted therapy drugs I A Although there is a risk, researchers suggest the Report any significant problem, such as chance of developing cardiovascular disease solely E shortness of breath or chest pain, to their from radiation therapy is so small that women should

H healthcare provider. not opt out of therapy to reduce their chances.