Breast Cancer Treatment and Cardiovascular Considerations

Breast cancer is the most frequently occurring cause of cancer-related mortality in women all around the world. However, the risk of cardiovascular diseases increases in parallel with dramatic improvements in target-specific treatment for breast cancer. The aim of this review was to show the importance of cardiovascular involvement in patients with breast cancer.
Published literature, regarding breast cancer and cardiovascular involvements, as well as cardiovascular complications of current treatments for breast cancer, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, was reviewed.
Review of our data revealed that there are extensive direct and indirect impacts of breast cancer on the cardiovascular system. Cardiovascular complications of breast cancer are common and range from cardiomyopathy, pericardial involvement, venous thromboembolism, and arterial thrombosis to some uncommon problems.
Early detection of cardiovascular damages from breast cancer is strongly recommended. Considering the significant cardiovascular complications of both breast cancer and its treatment, early recognition, prevention, and management of these complications, even the minor ones, improve prognosis and survival of patients with breast cancer.