Cardiac toxicity of breast cancer treatment

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Cardiac toxicity of breast cancer treatment

Journal Title: Inżynier i Fizyk Medyczny - Year 2014, Vol 3, Issue 4

Abstract

Breast cancer is one of the most popular and frequent cancer in women. Cardiac toxicity is often observed side effect of the adjuvant therapy and this is a big therapeutical problem. Both radiotherapy and chemotherapy used as anti-cancer therapy cause the cardiac complications. In the case of combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy the risk of cardiac toxicity increase. Cardiotoxic side effects after radiotherapy are divided into acute and late complications. The acute side effects (acute cardiac toxicity) may occur during the therapy or to one year after radiotherapy. These complications mainly affect the pericardium and the heart valves. The late side effects (late cardiac toxicity) may occur more than one year, generally 10-15 years after the end of the treatment. The complications were located mostly in the pericardium and in the coronary vessels, but it also can involve the myocardium and the conducting system of the heart. The development of radiotherapy techniques gives the possibility of minimalizing the heart dose. Moreover, the progress in chemotherapy also reduces the risk of cardiac injury. But still the cardiac complications and injuries are the significant part of the side effect of anti-cancer therapy.

Authors and Affiliations

Justyna Wittych, Marta Wachowicz, Paweł Banatkiewicz, Stanisław Mitura, Iwona Gisterek

Keywords

EP ID EP73741
DOI -
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