After ten years, women who have had breast cancer more often have a slightly reduced pumping function of the heart and more often cardiovascular disease than women without a history of cancer.
In addition, they more often experience complaints of depression, anxiety and fatigue. This is apparent from research by general practitioner Saskia Accord-Maass of the University Medical Center Groningen. She will defend her dissertation at the University of Groningen on 6 July.
Breast cancer affects one in eight women in the Netherlands, the UMCG writes. Due to, among other things, increasingly better treatment, the number of women still alive five years after diagnosis has increased to 88 percent.
This means that the number of women who have had breast cancer is increasing. In her study, Accord-Maass looked at whether these women experience long-term negative effects of breast cancer and its treatment. She focused on women who were diagnosed at least five years ago. Accord-Maass compared 350 women treated for breast cancer with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with 350 women of the same age and general practice, without cancer in their history.’
The results of her research show that even after successful breast cancer treatment, women can still experience physical and psychological complaints in the long term as a result of breast cancer or its treatment.
Preventive cardiological examination not necessary
For example, it appears that the women more often have a slightly reduced pumping function of the heart and also more often have cardiovascular disease than women without cancer. According to the study by Accord-Maas, it is not necessary for women who have had breast cancer to undergo a standard preventive examination with a cardiologist: it is important that the general practitioner includes this information in his/her risk assessment for cardiovascular disease. ‘
Depression and Anxiety
Women who have had breast cancer are more likely to have symptoms of depression and anxiety. ‘The fear of getting sick again doesn’t always disappear after five years. It stays, sometimes up to ten years after the treatment.’ The women also experience more complaints of fatigue than women without breast cancer.
Recognize and acknowledge
According to Accord-Maass, it is important to pay attention to the long-term effects after treatment for breast cancer. Accord-Maass: ,,Fortunately, most women no longer experience any complaints. But we have to recognize the women who still have complaints and we have to recognize that their complaints may still be a result of the treatment for breast cancer. For these women, this still has an impact on their quality of life ten years after diagnosis. It is important that there is knowledge about this, so that treatment can possibly start”.
Accord-Maass believes that long-term effects should be given attention in the training of general practitioners and in future guidelines, so that healthcare workers are also aware of this.
Follow-up study
She and her colleagues have now started a follow-up study to see how the possible complaints develop further over time.
–
