A study in Sweden found that the risk of coronary artery narrowing four times greater in women who have breast cancer on the left and treated with radiation compared with breast cancer on the right that were treated with radiation.
According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology and reported by HealthDay, Wednesday (28/12/2011), the possibility of a more severe narrowing seven times higher in the left breast than the right breast.
This study involving Swedish women diagnosed with breast cancer between 1970 and 2003. Of the 8190 women, researchers found 199 women who underwent coronary angiography and showed significant coronary artery disease.
Coronary artery narrowing (stenosis) rated on a scale of zero to 5. Zero indicates healthy blood vessels, while 5 showed blocked blood vessels. When the researchers compared women who had undergone radiation therapy on the left side of his body with the right side of the body.
They found that the likelihood of stenosis scale of 5 to 3 in the left artery 4.38 times higher. The possibility of stenosis scales 5 or scale 4 is 7.22 times higher for women who have breast cancer on the left.
In women who received radiation in high-risk areas near the heart arteries, the risk of stenosis of the scale 3 to scale 5 is almost two times higher than women who received radiation in low-risk areas or without the radiation.
"We suggest that the coronary artery is considered as organ at risk in radiation therapy, and every effort should be made to avoid radiation dose to the coronary arteries," said researcher, Dr. Greger Nilsson from the department of oncology, radiology and clinical immunology at the University Hospital of Uppsala, Sweden.
Cancer treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy designed to destroy cancer cells. Unfortunately, healthy cells are also often were damaged. Treatment techniques are continually refined and current treatments target fewer healthy cells than before treatment.
"For example, newer radiation techniques that help protect the heart and arteries. One such technique is to provide bursts of radiation only when the patient takes a deep breath. During deep breathing, the heart's main artery will secede from the breast and chest wall , so keep it away from radiation exposure, "said Dr.. Timothy Zagar, an assistant professor of radiation oncology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Researchers do not know exactly how radiation can cause damage to the coronary arteries. It is believed, this therapy damage the cells lining the arteries (endothelial cells), causing inflammation that can lead to hardening of the arteries.
However, it is important to note that from 8190 women who had breast cancer, only 199 people who should be referred to undergo coronary angiography or treatment for blocked blood vessels.
"Patients women need to realize that there are risks, but overall risk is still relatively small, and the benefits of radiation in the treatment of breast cancer is still greater benefits than risks," said Dr. Stephanie Bernik, chief of surgical oncology at Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City.
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