Can radiation treatment for breast cancer cause heart problems?
Many women receive radiation therapy as well, which can cause heart tissue to scar or stiffen, possibly leading to valve disorders, coronary artery disease, or other heart problems.
Can radiation treatment damage the heart?
Radiation can injure the pericardium (the tissue covering the heart), myocardium (the heart muscle itself), the heart valves, coronary arteries and the heart’s electrical system. Some of the problems that may develop are: Pericarditis (inflammation of the tissue surrounding the heart)
Can radiotherapy cause heart failure?
Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are increasing the number of people who survive cancer. However, they can also cause these same people to develop cardiovascular disease. Radiation therapy can cause heart attack, heart failure, and arrhythmias.
Can right breast radiation cause heart problems?
Overall, Watt said, women given right-sided radiation had heart disease rates similar to those seen among U.S. women in general. The bottom line, according to Watt, is that when caring for breast cancer survivors, doctors should take the “laterality” or side of their cancer into consideration.
Can breast radiation hurt your heart?
Years ago, researchers discovered that many patients who underwent radiation therapy to the left breast later developed heart conditions, including pericardial disease, conduction abnormalities, coronary artery disease, congestive heart disease, heart valve disease and even sudden cardiac death.
Can radiation cause coronary artery disease?
Radiation-induced coronary artery disease (RICAD) is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in mainly oncology patients treated with radiation therapy (RT). With increased rates of oncologic treatment, the rates of RICAD are increasing in parallel.
Does radiation to the left breast affect the heart?
Can radiation to the left breast affect the heart?
Can left breast radiation cause heart problems?
What are the symptoms of cardiac toxicity?
Symptoms of cardiac toxicity may include:
- Chest pain.
- Heart rhythm changes (arrhythmia).
- Fatigue.
- Shortness of breath.
- Weight gain.
- Swelling.
Can radiation cause enlarged heart?
Radiation therapy aimed at the chest region for breast cancer or lung cancer, for example, can prompt a thickening of the blood vessels and heart valves, inflammation, and artery blockages. Heart problems due to radiation often impact younger people, too.
Does radiation cause AFIB?
Among all patients included in the study, patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation had an increased prevalence of AF. Compared to patients who received neither chemotherapy nor radiation (n = 12,307, AF-3.6%), patients who underwent chemotherapy (n = 1,665) had a 4.1% prevalence of AF.
What are the side effects of radiation therapy for breast cancer?
Many breast cancer patients undergo radiation therapy as part of their treatment. While radiation therapy often comes with side effects, such as skin irritation and fatigue, patients with left-sided breast cancer have an added concern: potential for heart disease.
How does breast cancer treatment affect your heart?
Radiation for breast cancer can increase heart risks. The heart effects of radiation begin emerging as soon as five years after treatment, according to a large European study out earlier this year in The New England Journal of Medicine. That study also found that, for every 1 gray of radiation (a unit that measures the absorbed radiation dose),…
Are there any heart problems associated with radiation therapy?
Taylor’s team did not look at all types of heart problems, Moslehi said. Radiation therapy has been linked with other cardiac problems, including heart rhythm issues and valve problems. In addition, he said, some chemotherapy has been linked with heart risks.
What are some of the side effects of cancer?
Certain cancer treatments can damage the heart and the cardiovascular system. These side effects, including high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, and heart failure, can be caused or exacerbated by chemotherapy and radiation therapy, as well as by newer forms of cancer treatment, such as targeted therapies and immunotherapies.