Lymphoma, breast cancer survivors have greater risk of CHF

Mitigating risk

These findings raise important questions about what the appropriate surveillance should be for heart problems post-cancer treatment, Dr Larsen said. She believes more frequent cardiac imaging may be warranted in some patients to detect signs of CHF earlier.

“It’s an area that needs to be better defined,” Dr Larsen said. “An echocardiogram is usually done 6 to 12 months after cancer treatment with an anthracycline, but how often should it be done after that? We need to be more vigilant in making sure we try to prevent or control heart issues post-cancer care, especially in light of the growing appreciation of the connection between some cancer treatments and heart disease.”

Dr Larsen also noted that patients themselves can play a role in decreasing their risk of CHF, even if they are starting at a disadvantage.

A heart-healthy lifestyle—maintaining a normal body weight, regular exercise, and controlling other risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol—can help lower the risk of heart disease and CHF.

“If patients know they have received a drug treatment that might increase their risk of heart failure, it’s even more important to take care of the aspects of their life that they can control to reduce their risk as much as possible and to work with their medical care team to detect issues as early as possible,” Dr Larsen said.