Breast Cancer Treatments Can Increase Risk Of Heart Disease — Ann Pietrangelo
Some treatments for breast cancer can harm your heart. And heart disease is the number one cause of death for women in the United States. Some treatments can cause abnormal heart rhythms, weaken the heart muscle, or damage heart cells. One of the treatments is doxorubicin (Adriamycin). Paula Klein, MD, associate professor of medicine, hematology and medical oncology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai said that Adriamycin, also known as the “red devil,” is commonly incorporated into aggressive treatment programs. “It is associated with irreversible toxicity. But the risk is low - less than one percent. It’s higher in older women and those with cardiovascular risk factors,” she explained. Before beginning treatment with Adriamycin and Herceptin, patients get a baseline echocardiogram and MUGA scan, she said.
- Paula Klein, MD, Associate Professor, Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
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