What Are the Risks of Cardiovascular Disease for Cancer Patients?
Cancer patients are at an elevated risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to the combined effects of the cancer itself and its treatments. For example, chemotherapeutic agents like anthracyclines and targeted therapies such as trastuzumab are known to be cardiotoxic. Radiation therapy, especially when applied to the chest area, can also increase the risk of heart disease by causing damage to the heart and surrounding blood vessels.
