Q. Why does the risk of heart disease decline among survivors of childhood cancer?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
Survivors of childhood cancer have a lower risk of heart disease because chemotherapy and radiation therapy kill cancer cells, but they also damage healthy cells surrounding the tumor.
The chemotherapy and radiation therapy that are used to treat childhood cancer kill cancer cells, but they also damage healthy cells surrounding the tumor. This can cause long-term problems, including an increased risk of heart disease. However, recent advances in treatment have reduced the amount of damage done to healthy cells, which has led to a decline in the rate of heart disease among childhood cancer survivors.