|
Young cancer patients at risk of
heart failure due to drugs
Reported September 03, 2009
Some older cancer drugs can damage heart cells leading to
heart failure, where the organ does not pump as efficiently.
The condition is difficult to treat and can require a heart transplant in
severe cases.
As more children and young people survive their cancer doctors are finding
they are developing heart failure in middle age, experts at the European
Society of Cardiology Congress in Barcelona said.
Around 2,000 people aged between 13 and 24 are diagnosed with cancer each
year in Britain.
Certain cancers such of the soft tissues, blood cancer, breast and ovarian
cancer are treated with older anti-cancer drugs known as anthracyclines.
These drugs are not as good as newer ones at targetting cancer cells and can
damage heart cells.
One in ten people treated with the drugs will develop heart failure ten or
20 years later, research has shown.
Dr Federico Quaini, an oncologist from Parma in Italy,
told the conference: "More and more we are seeing paediatric cancer
survivors who are now in their 30s and 40s and whose only option is a heart
transplant."
Doctors should be aware of the problem and monitor cancer survivors for
signs of heart failure, they said.
Symptoms include breathlessness, swollen ankles and becomed tired easily.
There are around 700,000 people living with heart failure in Britain. It can
br brought on by a previous heart attack, infections, excessive alcohol
consumption and high blood pressure.
Dr Quaini said cancer patients should have their heart health assessed
before treatment so attempts can be made to protect the heart from damage.
Studies are underway on treatments to protect the heart during cancer
treatment, he said.
Dr Thomas Suter, a cardiologist from the Swiss Cardiovascular Centre in
Bern, said: "Oncologists need to identify the patients who are likely to
have trouble and know exactly when to alert the cardiologists to prevent
damage.
"The problem, particularly with the older drugs, is that once damage has
occurred it cannot be reversed.
|
