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News
Cancer survivors aren't always in the clear — their hearts may still be at risk. Cardiotoxicity from cancer treatments like anthracyclines, trastuzumab, and chest radiation can silently damage the heart, with symptoms not surfacing until 10–20 years later. Primary care physicians are often the first line of defense in catching these late-emerging cardiac complications.
Beating cancer is a major milestone, but for many survivors, the heart may still be at risk long after treatment ends. Cardiotoxicity — heart muscle damage caused by certain cancer therapies — can remain clinically silent for a decade or more before manifesting as fatigue, shortness of breath, swollen ankles, or sudden weight gain. Spain's Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SEMNIM) is raising awareness about the need for long-term cardiac surveillance, especially in patients treated with anthracyclines, trastuzumab, or thoracic radiation.
Primary care physicians (PCPs) are uniquely positioned to catch these late effects, since they continue seeing patients long after oncology follow-up ends. Experts stress that even seemingly minor symptoms in a cancer survivor should raise concern. Monitoring frequency should be tailored to cumulative risk — from every 3–5 years for low-risk patients to annually for high-risk groups — using echocardiography or radionuclide scanning.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: As cancer survival rates improve, the long-term cardiovascular burden on survivors is growing. Ensuring PCPs are equipped to recognize and monitor late cardiotoxicity is critical to preventing avoidable heart failure in this population.
