Patients getting radiation therapy may also need to see a cardiologist.
Radiation therapy is used to treat many cancer types. When the cancer is located in the chest area, there is a chance that the radiation will cause heart damage and ultimately, heart disease/failure. For this reason, it is important that patients receiving therapy to their chest also seek the input and follow-up care of a cardiologist.
Sources: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe1215300?query=featured_home
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1209825?query=featured_home
More on radiation therapy:http://www.cancerquest.org/radiation-therapy-introduction.html
The image below is a plastic radiation mask used to position a patient getting treatment for head/neck cancers. Each mask is individually molded for the patients.
Radiation therapy is used to treat many cancer types. When the cancer is located in the chest area, there is a chance that the radiation will cause heart damage and ultimately, heart disease/failure. For this reason, it is important that patients receiving therapy to their chest also seek the input and follow-up care of a cardiologist.
Sources: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMe1215300?query=featured_home
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1209825?query=featured_home
More on radiation therapy:http://www.cancerquest.org/radiation-therapy-introduction.html
The image below is a plastic radiation mask used to position a patient getting treatment for head/neck cancers. Each mask is individually molded for the patients.
This is exactly what my radiation mask looked like. Speaking from experience I can tell you my cardio capability diminished greatly during my treatment.
Thanks so much for sharing this. One of my friends just recently had to see his Queens cardiologist because he had quite the health scare. I'm going to forward this to him and see what he thinks of this.
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