Understanding the importance of heart health after cancer treatment 

Cancer Council NSW have developed Australia’s first widely available patient fact sheet on heart health and cancer 

Long-term cancer survivors are about 40% more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than the general population as a result of cancer treatment toxicity and shared risk factors. Yet, there is a scarcity of publicly available information that is in plain English and consumer-centric around the relationship between cancer and heart health 

Advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment mean that more people than ever are living longer after cancer treatment, and there is growing recognition that managing cardiovascular health during and after cancer treatment can improve patients’ outcomes. Cancer and cardiovascular health share many risk factors, including smoking, physical inactivity, an unhealthy diet, and drinking too much alcohol. This means that making some changes in day-to-day life can often help to lower the risk of heart-related side effects from cancer treatment. 

To help patients and survivors understand cardiovascular risks after cancer treatment and how lifestyle measures can reduce these risks, Cancer Council NSW have developed Australia’s first comprehensive patient fact sheet on heart health and cancer.  

Understanding Heart Health and Cancer, published in June 2025, is a free eight-page fact sheet available to print and download from Cancer Council websites.  

It explains what a patient and their treatment team can do to protect the patient’s heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular system) before, during, and after cancer treatment.  

It is being promoted through Cancer Council’s established networks of cardiologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and general practitioners for use with patients.   

Professor Bogda Koczwara,  the Director of the Australian Research Centre for Survivorship said: “Effective management of risk factors of cardiovascular disease is critical to improve the health and wellbeing of all people living with and beyond cancer and something that cancer patients and survivors can undertake themselves, if only given the right information how to.  Our ‘Understanding Heart Health and Cancer’ fact sheet is the first readily available source of consumer information that puts the tools in the hands of patients and survivors.”  

The fact sheet details key information about cancer and the heart, ways to keep your heart healthy, common heart problems linked to cancer and its treatment, symptoms to look out for, prevention and monitoring, managing heart problems and cardiovascular tests. The fact sheet also underscores the importance of patients maintaining a relationship with their GPs during and after their cancer treatment. 

Community Ambassador 

Rhiannon  

Throughout her breast cancer treatment, Rhiannon found invaluable support and information from Cancer Council NSW.  

“Cancer Council has been part of my cancer education; at each stage my care team has provided me with books and pamphlets all from the Cancer Council. It’s been great to have one website that is so holistic covering all sorts of information from finances through to sex. 

“As for the heart health aspect – I received general information about what chemotherapy could do to my heart and was given an ECG to check if my heart was healthy enough for chemotherapy but outside of that nothing additional or more specific. 

“It’s great that Cancer Council now has the ‘Understanding Heart Health and Cancer’ fact sheet. It will be a very valuable resource for me, as it will help me know how to look after my heart after cancer treatment.” 

Anyone affected by cancer is also able to call Cancer Council’s 13 11 20 Information and Support line and speak with an experienced health professional who can answer questions about cancer, including those related to concerns about heart health and cancer. 

For cancer information and support call Cancer Council’s 13 11 20 Information and Support line and speak to one of our health care professionals.

Note to Editor:  

It is important that people with cancer do not avoid cancer treatment because of concerns about their heart health. For most people, cancer treatment can save lives, and the benefits are greater than the risk of heart-related side effects. This new fact sheet explains how the cancer treatment team will carefully monitor for cardiovascular risks and side effects, and how patients themselves can reduce the risk of heart problems during and after treatment. 

 As the subject matter of this content could be confronting to some, we ask that you please include the following note at the bottom of any related published article:  

‘For cancer information and support call Cancer Council’s 13 11 20 Information and Support line and speak to one of our health care professionals’  

Media Contact:  

For all media enquiries and interview opportunities, please contact: Deanna Papanagiotou, PR & Communications Specialist   

Deanna.Papanagiotou@nswcc.org.au | +61293080258   

About Cancer Council NSW:   

Cancer Council is Australia’s leading cancer charity uniting the community, providing support, investing in research and saving lives.   

Tackling cancer does take all of us, which is why Cancer Council is here for everyone affected by cancer and their loved ones. If you need to talk, call Cancer Council on 13 11 20, visit our online community or visit cancercouncil.com.au/get-support.