As a radiation oncologist, I want to point out that the increased risk of CVD in patients who receive left sided radiation is almost nil with modern techniques. Just as supportive care in medical oncology has vastly improved since the 1980s so have our techniques for cardiac avoidance during treatment.
I was referred to a cardiologist through my oncologist’s office as part of a special heart health program (I had several of the treatments you mention). It was great to get a baseline for future reference and gave me a lot of peace of mind! I also asked about arterial calcs at my mammogram based on your post last year 😌
Brilliant coverage of the science, as always! Thank you so much for being an oncologist who actually pays attention to nutrition science. I’ve got to get you on my podcast!!!
Thanks for this information. I’m about to go into ACT chemo and I have had the ECG. Will check about cholesterol as I don’t see that in my records. You also answered my question about calcium which I really appreciate!
Great article! It’s amazing how much things have improved. Over my career, I’ve seen my own use of cardiotoxic drugs like anthracyclines decline significantly as we’ve shifted toward smarter therapies like targeted treatments and immunotherapy. These new options not only work well but are also easier on patients’ hearts.
What’s just as exciting is the way we can catch potential issues earlier now. Advances in imaging and biomarkers mean we can spot problems before they become serious, and having a cardio-oncology team to help manage these risks makes the process even safer. It’s encouraging to see the whole field moving in such a thoughtful, patient-focused direction.
Great review!
As a radiation oncologist, I want to point out that the increased risk of CVD in patients who receive left sided radiation is almost nil with modern techniques. Just as supportive care in medical oncology has vastly improved since the 1980s so have our techniques for cardiac avoidance during treatment.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15770005/
I was referred to a cardiologist through my oncologist’s office as part of a special heart health program (I had several of the treatments you mention). It was great to get a baseline for future reference and gave me a lot of peace of mind! I also asked about arterial calcs at my mammogram based on your post last year 😌
Brilliant coverage of the science, as always! Thank you so much for being an oncologist who actually pays attention to nutrition science. I’ve got to get you on my podcast!!!
Thanks for this information. I’m about to go into ACT chemo and I have had the ECG. Will check about cholesterol as I don’t see that in my records. You also answered my question about calcium which I really appreciate!
Great article! It’s amazing how much things have improved. Over my career, I’ve seen my own use of cardiotoxic drugs like anthracyclines decline significantly as we’ve shifted toward smarter therapies like targeted treatments and immunotherapy. These new options not only work well but are also easier on patients’ hearts.
What’s just as exciting is the way we can catch potential issues earlier now. Advances in imaging and biomarkers mean we can spot problems before they become serious, and having a cardio-oncology team to help manage these risks makes the process even safer. It’s encouraging to see the whole field moving in such a thoughtful, patient-focused direction.