[Cancer and cardiovascular risk]

Cancer survivors have lower long-term survival, in part due to increased cardiovascular disease (CVD). Up to 30% of the deaths of patients with cancer may be due to cardiovascular causes. Cancer can cause atherosclerosis by different mechanisms, the most frequent being the sequelae of antitumour drugs, radiotherapy, and haematopoietic cell transplantation. Cardiovascular risk factors are prevalent in cancer survivors. These patients should be considered at high cardiovascular risk. It is advisable to recommend healthy lifestyle habits and strict control of risk factors. There is an immediate need to expand the availability of cardiovascular preventive services to reduce the late adverse effects of chemotherapy and radiation. Early intervention could help improve cardiovascular risk profile.