Why heart health matters during and after cancer treatment

When you’re diagnosed with cancer, it’s natural to focus on recovery and getting back to everyday life. But for many people, looking after their heart becomes an important part of that recovery.

Cancer and heart disease share many risk factors, and cancer treatment can affect your heart health in different ways, depending on the type of cancer, treatment received and your overall risk factors. While not everyone who has had cancer will experience heart issues, it is helpful to know what to look out for and how to care for your heart in the long term.

That is why Cancer Council NSW has developed Understanding Heart Health and Cancer, a free online fact sheet designed to help people affected by cancer understand how cancer and its treatment may impact heart health, and what steps they can take to stay well.

Heart health is important for people with cancer

As part of ongoing care, it’s important to be aware of heart health and how it may be affected during or after treatment.

There are a few reasons why heart health matters:

Shared risk factors: Some of the same factors that increase cancer risk – like smoking, physical inactivity and poor diet – also increase the risk of heart disease. This means some people may be more likely to experience both.

Pre-existing heart conditions: If you already had a heart condition before cancer, your treatment team may need to adjust your care to help protect your heart.

Treatment effects: Some cancer treatments can affect how the heart or blood vessels work. This is known as cardiotoxicity or cardiovascular toxicity, and it varies depending on the type of treatment and your overall risk.

Clotting risks: Certain cancers, such as blood or lung cancers, may increase the risk of blood clots or bleeding, which can affect heart health.

Heart-related side effects from cancer treatment are relatively common, but serious issues are uncommon. Most are temporary and manageable with support from your health care team. The benefits of life-saving cancer treatment usually far outweigh any risks. Knowing what to look out for, and taking steps to support your heart, can help you feel more confident during recovery.

Ways to look after your heart

Taking steps to support your heart health can benefit your overall recovery and wellbeing after cancer. These include:

• Know your risk: talk to your doctor about whether your treatment increases your heart risk and what checks you may need
• Stay physically active: aim for regular movement suited to your ability, such as walking, stretching or light exercise
• Eat a balanced diet: focus on vegetables, fruit, wholegrains and healthy fats
• Maintain a healthy weight: speak to your GP if you need support
• Avoid smoking: quitting smoking is one of the most effective ways to reduce heart risk
• Limit alcohol: drink less or avoid alcohol where possible
• Manage blood pressure and cholesterol: regular check-ups with your GP can help identify any changes early
• Reduce stress: consider mindfulness, breathing exercises or talking to a counsellor if you feel overwhelmed

Symptoms to be aware of

Some signs of heart problems may be easy to miss or mistaken for other side effects of treatment. If you notice any of the following, speak to your doctor:

• Feeling unusually tired or short of breath
• Chest pain or tightness
• Dizziness, fainting or light-headedness
• Irregular, fast or slow heartbeat
• Swelling in your ankles, legs or stomach

Not everyone will have symptoms, which is why regular monitoring is important if you are at risk.

When to talk to your doctor

It’s a good idea to raise heart health at your follow-up appointments. You might like to ask:

• Is my heart health at risk because of the treatment I had?
• Are there lifestyle changes I can make?
• What checks should I have, and how often?
• What symptoms should I watch for?

Even if your heart was not affected during treatment, staying informed and making healthy choices can help prevent problems in the future.

Get your free resource

To help people understand the connection between cancer and heart health, Cancer Council NSW has created Understanding Heart Health and Cancer. This fact sheet includes:

• Clear, practical information about cancer and the heart
• Tips for prevention, monitoring and self-care
• Common symptoms and types of heart issues
• Questions to ask your doctor

Whether you are a cancer survivor, carer or health professional, this resource can support informed conversations and better long-term care.

Download our Understanding Heart Health and Cancer fact sheet for more information.