Cardio-oncology: Concepts and practice

Substantial progress in cancer therapy increasingly allows higher cure rates, and even advanced disease can be stabilized, allowing improved survival with quality of life for months to years, meaning comorbid diseases are a growing determinant of outcome. Cardiovascular events substantially contribute to long-term morbidity and mortality in people living with or surviving cancer. In recognition of this, the subspecialty of cardio-oncology has emerged, and aims to promote cardiovascular heath, whilst facilitating the most effective cancer therapy. This review describes the concept of cardio-oncology, and illustrates the role played by a specialist team in improving outcomes, using heart failure secondary to breast cancer treatment as an example. We aim to highlight pivotal original research and comprehensive summaries of the most relevant topics, providing an overview for cardiologists and oncologists about this increasingly important medical problem.