Adults who recover from childhood cancer have a higher risk of heart problems than other adults. A new study recently found that those who recover from childhood cancer have an increased risk of heart disease later in life, however, with the treatment of cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol
The results of the study, which looked at 500,000 American adults who recovered from childhood cancer, highlight the need for greater awareness among doctors and patients about the increased risk of heart disease, the authors say.
The researchers also found that treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation mean that childhood cancer survivors have five times higher risk of heart disease and death than the general population.
Dr. Eric, an associate professor of clinical research and public health sciences at Seattle's Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and the study's lead author, said serious heart disease is uncommon in young adults. Therefore, it is important to be more aware of the risk of heart disease from past cancer.