Cardiac complications from cancer therapy.

In 2005, more than 10 million people in the United States were cancer survivors, and that number is expected to grow as therapies for cancer improve and the population ages. Although survival is something to be celebrated, it can be accompanied by a number of health problems secondary to the initial disease and its treatment. Cardiovascular problems are emerging as a particular concern among the survivor population. This article reviews what is known about the kinds and rates of cardiovascular complications common to cancer survivors, the treatments that caused them, and the risk factors for them. It also presents guidance for primary care providers caring for survivors who may be at risk of cardiovascular complications.