Do all chemotherapy drugs cause cardiotoxicity?
Do all chemotherapy drugs cause cardiotoxicity?
No. But, it is important to ask yourself 2 questions?
- Do you have a history of heart disease?
- Do you have risk factors for heart disease?
Next, ask your doctor the following 2 questions:
- Does my treatment plan put me at risk for future heart damage (is it cardio-toxic)?
- Do you do use special testing to screen for heart problems before, during and after treatment?
The most common chemotherapy drugs related to cardio-toxicity include:
- 5-fluorouracil (Adrucil)
- Paclitaxel (Taxol)
- Anthracyclines (a class of drugs)
- Targeted therapies: such as monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors
- Some Leukemia drugs