Can radiation therapy for breast cancer affect the heart?
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 left breast radiation cause heart problems?
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.
How does breast cancer affect your heart?
In a new study, they found women diagnosed with breast cancer are more likely to die of heart disease than any other cause of death, other than cancer itself. Heart disease remains the number one cause of death for women.
How can you protect your heart from radiation?
This is called Deep Inspiration Breath Hold, or DIBH. DIBH will protect your heart during treatment. Then, during treatment, you’ll take and hold a deep breath in the same way as before. When your breast surface is at the right position, the display lights turn green and the SGRT system turns the radiation beam on.
What is the success rate of radiation therapy for breast cancer?
Radiation therapy decreased the risk of dying from cancer by approximately 33%. The probability of surviving 10 years from treatment was increased from 54% to 64% and 45% to 54% in the two studies, respectively. No significant long-term side effects of radiation therapy were reported.
How long does it take to recover from radiation therapy for breast cancer?
It often takes 3 to 4 weeks for skin reactions to heal. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact your radiation oncologist or nurse.
Does radiation damage your 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)
Is radiation hard on the heart?
Unfortunately, radiation therapy can cause cardiotoxicity. In other words, radiation can injury literally every part of the heart. This means that the pericardium, myocardium, heart valves and arteries can all be damaged by radiation therapy.
Can breast cancer spread to heart?
Or cancer can begin elsewhere in the body and spread to the heart through the bloodstream. Cancers that may affect the heart include lung cancer, breast cancer, esophageal cancer, kidney cancer, leukemia, lymphoma and melanoma, among others.
Can cancer treatment cause heart problems?
Yes, some conventional chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer can increase your risk of heart problems. Heart problems can also happen with newer targeted therapy drugs and with radiation therapy.
Can radiation treatment affect your lungs?
Radiation therapy to the chest may damage your lungs and cause a cough, problems breathing, and shortness of breath. These usually improve after treatment is over, although sometimes they may not go away completely.