Key result
Radiotherapy for breast cancer increases the risk of ischemic heart disease in women, proportional to heart radiation dose, lasting for over 20 years.
Why the study?
Does incidental radiation exposure to the heart increase the risk of major coronary events in women undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer?
Does incidental radiation exposure to the heart increase the risk of major coronary events in women undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer?
Incidental radiation exposure to the heart during breast cancer radiotherapy linearly increases the long-term risk of major coronary events by 7.4% per gray, with no apparent safe threshold.
Highlights need for cardiac dose minimization in breast cancer radiotherapy; extends observational data but leaves causal confirmation open.
Exposure of the heart to ionizing radiation during radiotherapy for breast cancer increases the subsequent rate of ischemic heart disease. The increase is proportional to the mean dose to the heart, begins within a few years after exposure, and continues for at least 20 years. Women with preexisting cardiac risk factors have greater absolute increases in risk from radiotherapy than other women. (Funded by Cancer Research UK and others.).
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Darby et al. (2013) studied this question. Radiotherapy for breast cancer increases the risk of ischemic heart disease in women, proportional to heart radiation dose, lasting for over 20 years.
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