Heart Disease in Childhood Cancer Survivors

Both heart disease and cancer are two sides of the same coin. Heart disease predisposes a person to cancer and vice-versa. In the expanding population of childhood cancer survivors, cardiac problems are a key cause for concern. Chest radiography and anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity are still significant in the current era of medicine. Children who develop heart disease after receiving cancer therapy, according to a study, suffer from it post-treatment.

For long-term survivors of pediatric cancer or childhood cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes cardiomyopathy/heart failure, coronary artery disease, stroke, pericardial disease, arrhythmias, and valvular and vascular dysfunction, is a major worry. Children with cancer are routinely treated with anthracyclines like doxorubicin, which carry a known dose-dependent risk of cardiotoxicity and heart failure. Rare but dangerous adverse effects of cancer therapies include heart issues. Heart issues brought on by cancer therapies can affect one's quality of life, the amount of cancer treatment one receives, the type of cancer treatment, and, in rare instances, even result in death. Managing side effects is a crucial component of cancer treatment. This is termed palliative or supportive care.

Heart disease symptoms include shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, weariness, and swelling of hands or feet. Heart issues include cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, myocarditis, coronary artery disease, arrhythmia, and damage to the pericardium can all be brought on by cancer therapy. Anthracycline chemotherapy, chest radiation therapy, chemotherapeutic medicines, targeted therapy, etc. are cancer treatments that might harm the heart. Older age, children, women, obesity, diabetes, and cardiac issues are risk factors for heart difficulties brought on by cancer therapy.

Read more: https://projectglobalcureorganization.wordpress.com/2022/08/18/heart-disease-in-childhood-cancer-survivors/