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Breast cancer and Cardiovascular diseases - An Insight

“Breast cancer changes you, and the change can be beautiful.”

 – Jane Cook

Cancer is a disease that doesn’t affect only the patient but also their family. It changes the patient’s and their family’s life in unexpected ways. It turns their life upside down. Nevertheless, we would have come across many cancer survivors shining through the odds with their immense positivity and inspiring others. One of the most common cancer types affecting predominantly women is breast cancer. October is observed as Breast Cancer Awareness month. Awareness in different forms has been planned throughout the month to provide information constituting breast cancer tips, breast cancer treatments, signs and symptoms, precautions, etc., It has been recorded that breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer affecting millions of women across the world. 


As a part of breast cancer month, this blog would like to share a piece of information with the readers about the connection between breast cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Can you believe if we say 35% of deaths in breast cancer survivors occur due to cardiovascular diseases?

Yes! It has come to light that the cardiotoxic effects of breast cancer treatments increase the cardiovascular risks in the survivors. Not just that it has also been found that breast cancer and cardiovascular diseases have overlapping risk factors. These risk factors may include physical inactivity, overweight, insulin resistance, excess alcohol consumption, and hormone replacement treatment. 

A study was conducted with 164 women, whose mean age was calculated to be 67 years. Also the mean number of years since the diagnosis was calculated as 9.4 years. On analysis, the following observations were made.

The highest percentage of breast cancer patients had one or more cardiovascular risks. Among these 2/3rd of the patients had high blood pressure. Half of the patients had high cholesterol levels. 1 in 5 women had diabetes as well. 44% of these women were former or current smokers of tobacco.  

Out of these 1.3% of the women had a history of cardiac attack. Additionally, the diseases like stroke (5.1%), venous thrombosis(5.1%), cardiomyopathy(4.4%), congestive heart failure(4.4%), and hypertension have also been recorded in breast cancer survivors. It is also found that breast cancer patients who are given tamoxifen therapy are prone to deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. The link between 

Anthracycline chemotherapy and congestive heart diseases cannot be ignored. 

The advancements in early detection and breast cancer therapy have aided 90% of breast cancer survivors in surviving 5 years past their diagnosis of breast cancer. The count of breast cancer survivorship is inversely proportional to cardiovascular diseases in women. 

How to prevent cardiovascular risks in breast cancer patients?

Just like any other disease or risk, cardiovascular risks in breast cancer patients can be reduced. And this can be done through a few examinations while or before undergoing any therapies like chemotherapy for breast cancer.

A thorough physical examination to determine the cardiovascular risks and the resistance to cardiac toxicity should be conducted. Also, the history of the patient should be analyzed to determine the same should be conducted. Both the baseline assessment and surveillance cardiac monitoring are preferable for knowing the patient’s resistance to cardiovascular risks in the future. 

Echocardiography is also the best option. Most breast cancer patients' go-to option is echocardiography and this is because it can examine Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) without any radiation exposure. Also, it can locate the reduction in subclinical Left Ventricular systolic function even before the reduction in Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) is observed. There is also a multidisciplinary patient-centric cardio-oncology team that comprises oncologists, radiotherapists, and cardiologists, functioning in many breast cancer hospitals to aid breast cancer patients . 

“Prevention is better than cure”

Do you know that about one-third of women vulnerable to breast cancer are over the age of 70? Yes! Get your senior loved one’s breast examined with Athulya’s gynecologist consultations in the comfort of your home. Geriatric gynecological problems have to be taken seriously and checked. We, Athulya Senior Care know this very well and under AthulyaHome Healthcare, we provide gynecologist consultations for geriatric women in the comfort of their homes. 

Our geriatric consultations include:

  • Physical Examination
  • Breast Examination
  • Vaginal Examination 
  • Urinary Problems 
  • Uterine Problems 

Call us at 098849 45900 for appointments.   

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