Although breast cancer survivors may focus on their long-term risk of recurrence, most of these women should be just as concerned about their hearts, medical researchers reported at a San Francisco oncology conference this week.
According to WebMD, the 10-year risk of a serious cardiovascular event was at least as high as the risk of breast cancer for 78% of women, Dr. Aditya Bardia of Johns Hopkins and colleagues reported at the ASCO Breast Cancer Symposium.
Findings of their preliminary studies don’t negate the importance of long-term management of breast cancer risk, Dr. Bardia said, but suggest more attention to the bigger picture. “Other things are also important,” he said. He also cautioned that these results were estimates, based on prognostic tools, rather than actual outcome data, and noted that the study did not factor in potentially important variables including obesity, diabetes, and the effect of breast cancer treatment on risk.
Dr. Rowan Chlebowski of Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles and chair of the session where the results were presented, said this link is a consistent message emerging in breast oncology. ”Breast cancer patients need more attention to cardiovascular health regardless of their risk level,” he said. “We need more interaction with cardiologists.”
This may mean referrals of high-risk patients for appropriate management, Dr. Bardia added. But counselling about risk reduction strategies common to cardiology and oncology, such as physical activity, may help avoid both hazards, he suggested.
Cardiovascular disease risk was more likely to be the predominant concern for women who had low grade tumours, small breast tumours, node negative disease, and early stage breast cancer.
Read this report of the Breast Cancer Symposium presentation.
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I had a heart health check up this fall after reading about heart damage from the chemo I received for breast cancer in 2004. Sure enough I have found out I have had heart damage and a heart attack, which I was not aware of. I have had strange feelings in my legs and feet since early 2005, no one could figure out why. I was diagnosed with LBB before the surgery. In 2002, my heart was just fine.
I just found your heart site through Google. Very interesting breast CA/heart attack info!
Oh, great. As if we don’t already have enough to worry about just surviving breast cancer treatment. Thanks for ruining my day!
If this is so, then women with breast cancer ought to be more cautious with their diet and have regular exercise to lower the risks of developing heart disease. I myself do an hour of brisk walking everyday plus eat a couple of apples right before sunrise. Not only is exercise and fruit good for the heart, but it also helps me with my mood swings!
Absolutely right, as Dr. Bardia says above: “…risk reduction strategies common to cardiology and oncology, such as physical activity, may help avoid both hazards.” Two apples just before sunrise – sounds great! Thanks, April.
Greetings! Very Interesting, I’ll quote this info on my site.