Therapist Unlimited Blog

Those women who are undergoing treatment for breast cancer through radiotherapy on their left breast better be careful.
This developed after medical researchers have found pieces of evidence that breast cancer patients are at risk of heart disease after radiotherapy.
Radiotherapy is a treatment use to those patients who have had breast conservation surgery, and those who are at high risk of the cancer returning after mastectomy.
The researchers discovered that when the breast tumor is on the left side, a small part of the heart is within the treatment range which can lead to heart disease.
Dr. Paul Symonds, of the University of Leicester’s Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, made the study involving 149 patients who had undergone radiotherapy for breast cancer.
Symonds revealed after treatment some patients developed red dilated blood vessels (telangiectasia) on the breast or chest wall, previously thought to be unsightly rather than of any medical significance.
He said based on the study, only those who had radiotherapy on the left side developed heart problems, which occurred between three and 12 years after treatment.
He added over half of those who developed heart problems showed signs of telangiectasia.

Women undergoing radiotherapy to treat breast cancer need to be vigilant since the medical procedure could lead to a heart disease.
 

The medical expert believes these figures are significant enough to suggest that telangiectasia could be a marker to predict the risk of heart disease after radiotherapy for breast cancer on the left side.
The medical expert added ultimately this research could lead to a test to predict which patients will develop severe radiotherapy side-effects.
He said clinicians can then use this information to advice patients of their risk before treatment and help the radiotherapist give the most appropriate treatment.
Meanwhile, Pamela Goldberg, Chief Executive, Breast Cancer Campaign, which funded the study said, "More and more women are living with breast cancer as a long term manageable condition rather than an incurable disease.
Goldberg said it is therefore vital that treatment not only improves the chance of survival but does not lead to other negative health consequences and maintains a good quality of life.