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Protecting Your Heart During Anthracycline Chemotherapy
If you’re undergoing chemotherapy with anthracycline drugs (such as Adriamycin/doxorubicin, daunorubicin, epirubicin, or idarubicin), protecting your heart health is crucial. These medications, while effective against cancer, can potentially cause heart problems that might not show up until years later.
. Last modified on : Oct 23 2025Research Takeaway: I received heart-damaging treatment. How often do I need an echocardiogram?
Recent research underscores the importance of monitoring heart health before and after chemotherapy, especially for patients undergoing heart-damaging (cardiotoxic) treatments such as anthracyclines or trastuzumab. A 2025 study followed over 800 breast cancer survivors for an average of eight years. The researchers found that cardiac dysfunction increased over time, from 1.8% at two years after treatment to 15.3% at 15 years.
. Last modified on : Oct 23 2025