As with any
medications and medical treatments, adverse effects are often involved. According to a recent study, breast cancer
patients who have undergone radiation therapy have a slightly higher risk of
developing ischemic heart disease. Of
course, the researchers from Oxford University, England, The Karolinska
Institute, Sweden and Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark, involved 2,200
female patients between 1958 and 2001 but did not include any men.
Ischemic heart disease is characterized when there is restriction in the blood supply to
tissue of the heart muscle. Of the
general population, ischemia is more common among men, people with close
relatives with ischemic heart disease, individuals with high cholesterol
levels, regular smokers, diabetes, and/or hypertension (high blood
pressure). The risk of developing
ischemic heart disease is higher with receiving radiation therapy when these
other health factors exist.
The
researchers used data from radiotherapy charts and medical records to
approximate the mean radiation dosage to the heart. In addition, they examined data of each
woman’s heart disease risk factors as well as their medical histories.
The team
found a clear association between the radiation dose and ischemic heart disease
later in life, although they feel that it is still small. If you received or need to receive radiation
therapy and your risks include angina, chronic obstructive lung disorder,
diabetes, obesity, smoker or other heart disease, speak with your doctor to see
how you can support or make changes to your overall health.
The
researchers agree the risk peaked during the first ten years after therapy and
then dropped but did still remain higher than normal for at least twenty
years. This information does not mean
that every breast cancer patient has a higher risk of heart disease. A 50-year-old patient who received a 3 Gy heart dose during radiotherapy
has a 2.4% chance of dying from ischemic heart disease before she is 80,
compared to 1.9% among breast cancer patients of the same age who had no
radiation.
This study
will hopefully help doctors determine the best ways to treat breast cancer
patients for radiation therapy. The
International Journal of Radiation Oncology/Biology/Physics in May of 2007
published a study finding that older breast cancer patients with early stage
disease who underwent radiation therapy had no increased risk of a heart
attack.
As in any
treatment, it’s important to determine if the risk outweigh the benefits.
Hopefully this information will assist all genders.
Happy
Valentine’s Day! If you love someone, you’ll check their breast (yes men do have breast) or remind them
to do a self-breast exam (see our brochure on the web site for details on how to perform a self
breast examination)
Modah Ani- I
Am Thankful
Editor;
Vicki Singer Wolf, Co-founder
