Cardiovascular side effects of breast cancer therapy

Abstract

Each year, the world sees more than 1.6 million new breast cancer cases. While breast cancer therapy has greatly improved and is leading to increased cancer cure rates, side effects of breast cancer therapy are also common. This chapter serves as an introduction to cardiovascular sequelae of breast cancer treatment with anthracyclines, hormonal therapy, radiation therapy, and targeted anti-cancer therapies. While there is some knowledge of mechanisms by which cardiovascular side effects may occur, and a few potential intervention strategies have been identified, much is still unknown. This chapter provides a brief discussion of pre-clinical and clinical research into biological mechanisms and strategies for early detection and intervention. There are recent efforts to provide a more extensive cardiovascular follow-up of cancer patients in integrated cardio-oncology clinical teams. Improved methods of early detection and disease management will aid in these collaborative efforts to make breast cancer therapy more effective and safer.