Children with cancer are more likely to develop heart disease in the future

The increasing incidence of childhood cancer can be attributed to industrialization and technological advancement. The silver lining is that around 70-90% of all childhood cancers are curable.

Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : February 4, 2016 10:40 AM IST

Childhood cancers constitute 3-4% of all cancers and in India nearly 40-50,000 new cases are registered each year. The increasing incidence of childhood cancer can be attributed to industrialization and technological advancement. The silver lining is that around 70-90% of all childhood cancers are curable. However extra care must be taken by survivors, since recent reports prove that prolonged cancer treatment puts children at high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases in the future as early as in their thirties.

Santosh Kumar Agarwal, Senior Interventional Cardiologist, Kailash Hospital and Heart Institute, Noidasaid, On one hand, it cannot be denied that cancer treatments can in the long run have adverse effects on the patient s heart health. However the treatment is an essential one and cannot be eliminated. Thus, it is important that prevention measures are in place and a life-long tab is kept on the patient s over-all health and well-being. By doing so, the onset of the disease can be delayed in high-risk individuals. It is the responsibility of the child s caregivers to maintain a detailed record of his/her treatment history. They must also inform the treating doctor if the child has any other risks of heart disease, such as a family history of diabetes and high blood pressure. It is important that childhood cancer survivors should lead a healthy life by eating a balanced diet, implementing effective stress management techniques and abstaining from consuming alcohol and tobacco. (Read: New drug for children s cancer is found to be very promising)

According to Dr Anupam Sachdeva, Director Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Institute For Child Health, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Childhood cancer survivors need close and constant follow-ups because they run a high risk of developing several illnesses such as obesity, heart disease, secondary tumors and endocrinological problems in the future .

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Given the modern day lifestyle, it is not uncommon for cancer and cardiovascular disease to coexist. Over 20% of the people diagnosed with cancer are found to be suffering from some form of cardiovascular disease or the other. Some cancer patients may even develop heart disease as a consequence of the treatment. Both chemotherapy and radiation cause long-term cardiovascular side effects. Chemotherapy agents are often responsible for cardio toxicity, ranging from vascular events to heart failure and cardiomyopathy. When patients undergoing chemotherapy have to have an angioplasty, it is recommended that blood thinners be administered for a longer duration. Radiation therapy can cause heart attack, heart failure, and arrhythmias. On this World Cancer Day, it is thus important that emphasis is laid on prevention of both cancer and cardiovascular disease as well as the management of co-morbidities. Regular and close monitoring is also crucial. (Read: NGO Cankids Kidscan spreads awareness about cancer in children)

The most common forms of cancer in children are leukemia and lymphomas followed by tumors of the brain and the central nervous system. Recent times have also seen a surge in rare childhood cancers like cancer of the eye.

Childhood cancer survivors must keep a check on any unusual symptoms which they may notice as they get older. Shortness of breath, unusual chest pain, and palpitations should not be ignored and immediate medical attention must be sought. Heart disease and cancer are interlinked and in adults they also have common lifestyle motivators. Thus living a healthy and balanced lifestyle is key in a day and age where the incidence of both the diseases continues to rise. Exposure to radiation and environmental pollution has also made the situation worse. While childhood cancer cannot be prevented in most cases, future heart disease can. (Read: A healthy dose of adventure an innovative treatment for cancer in children)