Can chemotherapy cause heart problems?
These side effects, including high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, and heart failure, can be caused or exacerbated by chemotherapy and radiation therapy, as well as by newer forms of cancer treatment, such as targeted therapies and immunotherapies.
Can heart Damage From Chemo be reversed?
Cardiotoxicity can be defined as a direct effect of chemotherapy resulting in cardiac dysfunction which may lead to reversible/irreversible heart failure.
How can I protect my heart during chemo?
Stay healthy after treatment
- Get to and stay at a healthy weight.
- Get regular exercise.
- Eat a healthy diet, with an emphasis on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Get recommended cancer screenings.
- Create a survivorship care plan.
- Keep your follow-up appointments.
- Take care of your emotional health.
How does cancer affect the heart?
Cancer treatment can cause the heart to pump less efficiently, cause changes in blood flow and/or increase the risk for blood clots (thrombosis) that can cause heart attack.
Does chemo affect your teeth?
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may cause changes in the lining of the mouth and the salivary glands, which make saliva. This can upset the healthy balance of bacteria. These changes may lead to mouth sores, infections, and tooth decay.
Does chemotherapy shorten your life?
During the 3 decades, the proportion of survivors treated with chemotherapy alone increased (from 18% in 1970-1979 to 54% in 1990-1999), and the life expectancy gap in this chemotherapy-alone group decreased from 11.0 years (95% UI, 9.0-13.1 years) to 6.0 years (95% UI, 4.5-7.6 years).
Does chemotherapy have long term effects on immune system?
High-dose chemo used with TBI causes more severe immune weakness that lasts for a longer time. It can also damage the skin and mucous membranes and make them less able to keep germs out of the body. This increases the risk of infection.
Can chemo hurt your liver?
Chemotherapy drugs can cause liver inflammation, and doctors often must lower patients’ doses or stop administering the therapies completely, the researchers say. Previous studies have looked into whether milk thistle could be used to treat liver damage from hepatitis and cirrhosis, the researchers note.
Does Chemo make your heart beat faster?
Several drugs used to treat some of the most common forms of cancer, like breast cancer, leukemia and lymphoma, can affect how the heart functions. In some cases, this can lead to heart failure, elevated blood pressure, rapid heartbeat and heart attack.
When does chemo side effects start?
Some people have no side effects, others experience a range. If you have side effects, they will usually start during the first few weeks of treatment and may become more intense with each treatment cycle.