Protecting Your Heart After Cancer: What Survivors Need to Know

As one of over 6 million women who have survived breast or gynecologic cancer, your strength and resilience are worth celebrating. Now, as you move forward, taking care of your heart health is a vital part of your continued well-being.

How Cancer Treatment Affects the Heart

Some cancer treatments—like chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy—can increase the risk of heart problems. For example:

• Anthracyclines (like doxorubicin) may cause heart damage years after treatment.

• Radiation near the chest can affect heart muscles, arteries, and valves.

• Immunotherapy and targeted therapy may lead to conditions like myocarditis or irregular rhythms.

Regular check-ups and open conversations with your survivorship care team can help detect and manage these risks early.

Understanding Heart Disease Risk Factors

Your risk can be influenced by both lifestyle and inherited factors:

• Age and family history

• Physical inactivity

• Smoking

• Obesity

• Poor diet

• Excessive alcohol

• Unmanaged stress

• Medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol

Take Action: Small Changes Make a Big Difference

A heart-healthy lifestyle also supports cancer prevention. Here's how to start:

• Eat a balanced diet: Focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Limit saturated fats, avoid trans fats, reduce sodium, and add more fiber.

• Stay active: Aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week—walking, dancing, swimming, biking, or even gardening.

• Maintain a healthy weight: Extra weight increases the risk of both heart disease and cancer recurrence.

• Quit smoking: It damages your heart and blood vessels. The benefits of quitting start right away.

• Monitor cholesterol: Reduce LDL (“bad” cholesterol) and increase HDL (“good” cholesterol) through diet and exercise.

You’re a Key Member of Your Care Team

Your experience and awareness are essential in protecting your health. Talk to your care team about your treatment history, heart screenings, and personalized recommendations. Staying informed is one of the most powerful steps you can take for your heart and your future.

Your heart matters—take care of it like it’s the only one you have. Because it is. 💗