Those who have been treated for Hodgkin's disease have a 3.6 fold increased risk of heart attack and a 4.9 fold increased risk of congestive heart failure than the general population.
A study was conducted to assess the long-term cardiovascular disease risk in a group of 1474 patients, who survived Hodgkin's lymphoma for at least five years.
Records showed that 28 percent received radiation only; 5 percent had chemotherapy only; 38 percent were treated with radiation and chemotherapy, which did not include anthracyclines, drugs known to damage the heart; and 29 percent received radiation plus chemotherapy with anthracyclines. Of these patients, a total of 84 percent were treated with radiation to the chest.
The study group detected 160 cases of valve disorders, 134 cases of angina, 102 heart attacks and 52 cases of congestive heart failure. Among subjects treated before the age of 20, the risk of angina and congestive heart failure were significantly higher than for those treated when they were older, suggesting that "immature cardiovascular tissue may be more vulnerable to radiation and chemotherapy."
The study team hopes that the outlook for survivors of Hodgkin's lymphoma will brighten over time, as fewer patients are receiving radiation therapy, and when they do, dosages are reduced and patients' hearts are at least partially shielded.
The recommendation for those treated for Hodgkin's is to consider some risk reducing strategies, such as treating high blood pressure and high cholesterol and advising patients to eliminate controllable risk factors.
This post isn't meant to scare anyone diagnosed with Hodgkin's that has been treated with radiation or chemotherapy. I was given an anthracycline as therapy for my breast cancer -- it does linger in the back of my mind that this drug is harmful to the heart and could cause problems later on in my life. I think that those treated for Hodgkin's, especially at a young age when treatments might have been less safe, should think about their lifestyle choices. Talk to your doctor about ways to decrease your risk of these heart problems.
1. My cousin had non-Hodgekins Lymphoma....I was with her during chemo...during her treatment, they started to give her the wrong dose of chemo...I caught it by reading her chart. She had radiation for someone else...they have her a radiation treatment intended for another person....she ended up having back pain for years, but wouldn't sue....she went through hell and died because she said she wouldn't go through it again, and she died of heart failure. I miss her so much. It was horrible the way she died....she went into the hospitla saying she couldn't breathe, and they didn't even tell anyone what was wrong with her and she went home for Christmas and got through it for two days and then went back to the hospital and died.
Everyone I know with this disease seems to die after they say they are cured after 5 years of no symptoms, but the still get sick and die about 15 years after the diagnosis.
She even had a needle break off during a breast biopsy and they told her to just leave it in, that it was more trouble to get it out then to just leave it in.
When you are sick, you need someone with you at all times to read your chart and make sure you are getting the correct treatment.
Posted at 9:14PM on Mar 27th 2007 by mamasayssing