Breast Cancer Treatment and Cardiovascular Considerations

Background: Breast cancer is the most frequently occurring cause of cancerrelatedmortality in women all around the world. However, the risk ofcardiovascular diseases increases in parallel with dramatic improvements in targetspecifictreatment for breast cancer. The aim of this review was to show theimportance of cardiovascular involvement in patients with breast cancer. Methods: Published literature, regarding breast cancer and cardiovascularinvolvements, as well as cardiovascular complications of current treatments forbreast cancer, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, was reviewed. Results: Review of our data revealed that there are extensive direct and indirectimpacts of breast cancer on the cardiovascular system. Cardiovascularcomplications of breast cancer are common and range from cardiomyopathy,pericardial involvement, venous thromboembolism, and arterial thrombosis tosome uncommon problems. Conclusion: Early detection of cardiovascular damages from breast cancer isstrongly recommended. Considering the significant cardiovascular complicationsof both breast cancer and its treatment, early recognition, prevention, andmanagement of these complications, even the minor ones, improve prognosis andsurvival of patients with breast cancer.