Key Points
➤ Cardiac dysfunction is a serious side effect of certain cancer-directed
therapies that can interfere with the efficacy of treatment, decrease
quality of life, or impact the actual survival of the cancer patient.
➤ Heart failure (HF), presenting during or after completion of cancer
treatment, is a well-recognized complication that begins with risk
factors known to be associated with the development of HF, including the
toxicity of chemotherapy and/or radiation (stage A), and is commonly
progressive after structural changes to the heart occur.
➤ The initial manifestation may be asymptomatic.
➤ Onset may also be responsible for interruption or discontinuation of
cancer-directed therapy, potentially reducing the chance for long-term
survival.
