{"id":268864,"date":"2026-03-05T11:20:25","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T15:20:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=268864"},"modified":"2026-03-05T11:20:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T15:20:27","slug":"3-things-you-should-know-about-cancer-and-the-heart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/3-things-you-should-know-about-cancer-and-the-heart\/","title":{"rendered":"3 things you should know about Cancer and the Heart"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a><\/div>
\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n

\u00a0As\u00a0cancer therapies<\/a>\u00a0improve and increasingly achieve cures or recurring periods of remission, preventing and managing damage to organs from cancer treatment has become a top concern. That includes injury to the heart, says\u00a0Joerg Herrmann, M.D.<\/a>, a cardiologist and the founder and director of the\u00a0Cardio-Oncology Clinic<\/a>\u00a0at\u00a0Mayo Clinic<\/a>\u00a0in Minnesota.\u00a0<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

As physicians and researchers work to prevent, diagnose and treat heart damage from cancer therapies, they also have learned about connections between cancer and the heart<\/a> that go beyond the cardiac effects of cancer treatments. Dr. Herrmann shares three things to know:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. There is a “web of risk factors.”<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Cancer and heart disease have common risk factors, Dr. Herrmann says. Those include lifestyle habits.<\/p>

    \"\"<\/a><\/div>
    \"\"<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    “We call it the web of risk factors. Some of the very same lifestyle-related factors can set patients up for both <\/em>cancer<\/em><\/a> and <\/em>cardiovascular disease<\/em><\/a>,” he explains. “Smoking<\/em><\/a> is a prime example. It increases the risk of <\/em>lung<\/em><\/a> and other cancers and <\/em>coronary artery disease<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>heart attacks<\/em><\/a> and <\/em>peripheral artery disease<\/em><\/a>.”<\/p>

    \"\"<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    In addition to not smoking, you can reduce your risk of cancer and of heart disease by achieving a healthy weight<\/a>; avoiding or moderating alcohol use; controlling cholesterol<\/a> (some cancer treatments can worsen cholesterol levels); getting enough sleep<\/a>; and adopting a healthy diet<\/a> with fruit and vegetables, he adds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Physical activity<\/a> is another important factor. It has been shown to reduce heart damage risk during cancer treatment, help prevent cancer recurrence and improve cardiovascular outcomes, Dr. Herrmann says.<\/p>

    \"\"<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    “The more elements of a healthy lifestyle you meet, the better your health projection is for the heart and cancer<\/em>,” he says. “You will reduce the risks of two of the leading killers and increase life expectancy<\/em>.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Cancer and heart disease can actually be risk factors for each other<\/a>.<\/p>

    \"\"<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    “We’ve realized that the relationship between cancer and heart disease works in both directions<\/em>,” Dr. Herrmann says. “Cancer itself can impact the cardiovascular system apart from cancer therapies, and vice versa. Patients with heart failure or other cardiovascular diseases have a higher risk of cancer<\/em>.”<\/p>

    \"\"<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    1. A variety of things may be done during cancer treatment to reduce risk to the heart.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Which treatments are given and how can affect the risk of heart damage, Dr. Herrmann says. For example, the medical team may:<\/p>\n\n\n\n