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According to a study, people who survive cancer are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The explanations of Professor Joachim Alexandre, cardiologist, on this phenomenon.
Bad news for former cancer patients. They are at risk of subsequently developing a cardiovascular problem (stroke, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, etc.) according to a new study published in the journal Heart.
Almost a third of cancer survivors have developed a heart problem
To arrive at this theory, Dr. Zahra Raisi-Estabragh of Queen Mary University of London and her colleagues assessed the cardiovascular health of 18,714 participants who had previously been diagnosed with lung, breast, prostate, blood, uterus or intestine.
They then compared this data with that of participants without a history of cancer, whose cardiovascular health had been monitored for almost twelve years.
Result ? About 30% of cancer survivor candidates developed a cardiovascular problem during the study period, compared to a quarter of people in the control group.
Another interesting finding of the study: the people most affected by cardiovascular disease (ischemic heart disease, arrhythmia and heart failure) turned out to be those who had suffered in the past from lung or blood cancer.
On the other hand, the most frequent cardiovascular problems in people with breast cancer were: heart failure, pericarditis and mechanical heart problems.
According to Dr. Zahra Raisi-Estabragh, these differences are “the reflection of specific characteristics of cancer and its therapies“.
Finally, in candidates who had fought breast or blood cancer, the size of the heart and even its proper functioning seemed to vary.
According to the researchers, these heart problems could be partly explained by cancer treatments.
Patients with blood cancers exposed to chemotherapies – as well as radiation therapy targeting the chest wall – are notably”known to be harmful“for heart tissue, say the scientists.
“Certain cancers particularly favor the occurrence of heart problems”
Unsurprising conclusions according to Professor Joachim Alexandre.
“It all starts with a very simple fact: fifteen years ago, post-cancer care was not a priority, because the survival prognosis rate was low. Then, with the arrival of new treatments, it has improved markedly. Life after cancer has become a new problem: the patients were certainly cured of the cancer, but developed new pathologies, in particular cardiovascular ones”, explains the expert. “Of course, this phenomenon is multifactorial. The basic metabolism, the therapies followed but also the age, influence this cardiovascular risk. In addition, certain cancers particularly favor the occurrence of heart problems: this is the case lung, blood cancer, but also breast cancer.”
On the treatment side, their adverse effects “can also increase heart problems“, believes the cardiologist – and this regardless of other factors.
“New drugs, which are taken orally – such as tablets – have new consequences, in particular cardiac“The chain of therapies”may also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease“, admits the expert.
Last point raised by the cardiologist: the underlying risk invoices, which are sometimes neglected, forgotten.
“In the case of cancer, it happens that we leave aside certain health problems – such as hypertension, diabetes or even being overweight – to focus only on tumors. However, these cardiovascular factors are indeed underlying“, he concludes.