Radiotherapy Link To Breast Cancer And Heart Disease Found

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Also Included In: Heart Disease;  Radiology / Nuclear Medicine;  Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 16 Jul 2009 - 1:00 PST

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

Scientists have found a way to identify breast cancer patients at risk of heart disease after radiotherapy, according to a report published yesterday.

Radiotherapy is commonly used to treat those patients who have had breast conservation surgery, and those who are at high risk of the cancer returning after mastectomy. When the breast tumour is on the left side, a small part of the heart is within the treatment range which can lead to heart disease.

Dr Paul Symonds, of the University of Leicester's Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, studied 149 patients who had undergone radiotherapy for breast cancer. After treatment some patients developed red dilated blood vessels (telangiectasia) on the breast or chest wall, previously thought to be unsightly rather than of any medical significance.

The findings, published in the British Journal of Cancer, revealed that only those who had radiotherapy on the left side developed heart problems, which occurred between three and 12 years after treatment. Over half of those who developed heart problems showed signs of telangiectasia.

These figures are significant enough to suggest that telangiectasia could be a marker to predict the risk of heart disease after radiotherapy for breast cancer on the left side.

Dr Symonds is now studying the genes of 1,000 patients who have undergone radiotherapy to try and identify those likely to experience side effects which could lead to heart disease. He said, "Ultimately this research could lead to a test to predict which patients will develop severe radiotherapy side-effects. Clinicians can then use this information to advise patients of their risk before treatment and help the radiotherapist give the most appropriate treatment."

Pamela Goldberg, Chief Executive, Breast Cancer Campaign, which funded the study said, "More and more women are living with breast cancer as a long term manageable condition rather than an incurable disease. It is therefore vital that treatment not only improves the chance of survival but does not lead to other negative health consequences and maintains a good quality of life."

Source
Breast Cancer Campaign

• Additional
• References
• Citations