EDISCIENCES

ABSTRACT

The impressive development in diagnosis and therapy of cancer has greatly reduced the death rate and increased survivorship. Survivorship starts at the time of diagnosis and lasts for a lifetime. The number of cancer survivors increased from 3.6 million in 1975 to 16.9 million in 2019 and is expected to reach more than 26 million by 2040. In a retrospective evaluation of cancer registries, an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) was found. Analyzing the correlation between cancer site and CVD, specific diseases such as venous thromboembolism and heart failure were the most frequent CVDs of all. The incidence of venous thromboembolism was higher at the time of cancer diagnosis, while heart failure incidence increased with time after diagnosis. The risk of cardiac mortality, compared to the general population, is always more elevated, for the whole life, mainly in the first year. Early involvement of cardiologists is required for the cardiac evaluation of the patient and identification of CVRF. A cardio-onco hematologic team with the involvement of the general practitioner is mandatory for a shared care plan.