When should we conduct surveillance for cardiac dysfunction in cancer survivors?

In the evolving landscape of cancer survivorship, attention is increasingly shifting beyond cure toward managing the long-term consequences of cancer and its treatments. One consequence gaining attention among oncologists, cardiologists and public health professionals is the increased risk of cardiac dysfunction in cancer survivors. Advancements in therapy have resulted in a growing population of cancer survivors at risk of a complex array of late effects stemming from cancer treatment. For some cancer treatments, the cardiovascular effects are immediate, such as the blood pressure elevation observed after initiation of vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors. For many cancer treatments, the late cardiovascular complications are insidious. The trade-off for improved survival can be a latent vulnerability to heart failure and coronary disease.