20/09/2025
Taking Care of Your Heart During Cancer Treatment
Going through cancer treatment is a journey, and part of that journey is making sure you’re taking care of your whole body, especially your heart. Heart disease is a big concern for many people, and it’s a key goal to ensure that getting better from cancer doesn’t bring new worries about your heart.
Some cancer treatments, like certain types of chemotherapy and radiation, may have an impact on your heart. For example, a chemotherapy drug called doxorubicin, used for breast cancer, sarcomas, and lymphomas, can affect how your heart works. While it was once thought this effect couldn’t be reversed, we now know that certain medications may help improve heart function, even years after treatment.
It’s important to know that heart-related issues from these treatments are not very common. They might happen a bit more often in those treated for lymphoma and sarcoma, since those treatments can use higher doses of the drug. Another targeted therapy, trastuzumab, can also affect the heart, but these effects are usually temporary, and serious heart problems are very rare with newer therapies.
Radiation therapy can also potentially lead to heart issues if it’s used on areas near your heart. That’s why your doctors work hard to aim the radiation as precisely as possible at the cancer, so your heart is exposed as little as possible.
Listening to Your Body
While heart damage from cancer treatment is generally rare, it’s always a good idea to pay attention to your body. Watch for other factors that can affect heart health, like high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Be aware of signs of heart failure, such as chest pain, feeling unusually out of breath, swelling in your legs, and difficulty lying flat. If you notice any of these, it’s a good idea to reach out to a healthcare provider.
To help you feel your best, staying active, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating a balanced diet are great ways to support your heart. These healthy habits are beneficial for everyone, whether you’re going through cancer treatment or not.