ABSTRACT
The evolution of cancer therapies and the advancement of our overall understanding of cancer progression and development have had a tremendous impact on survival rates, thus providing an increased need for research into the impact of cancer therapy on organ systems in the long term. Cardiovascular toxicity is one of the many consequences of such therapies, and has been linked to cardiomyopathy, ischemia, hypertension, arrhythmias, myocarditis, myocardial fibrosis, and more. Such complications do not only limit a patient’s ability to complete effective cancer therapy but are also associated with tremendous morbidity and mortality; in some cases, the risk of death from cardiovascular causes exceeds that of tumor recurrence. This chapter will focus on heart failure resulting from cancer therapy in use today and will serve as an introduction to the growing field of cardio-oncology. Although universal guidelines for defining, preventing, surveilling, and managing these patients are not in place, this chapter aims to help clarify the current suggested practices.
