Metabolic Outcome and CV Risk in Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

Breast cancer [BC] is the most diagnosed cancer among women worldwide. Thanks to advancements in early detection, systemic therapies, and supportive care, survival rates have significantly improved. As more patients survive BC, cardiovascular disease [CVD] has emerged as a leading cause of long-term morbidity and mortality in this population. This is largely due to a combination of shared risk factors, such as obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome, combined to cardiotoxic effects of certain anticancer therapies, particularly anthracyclines, HER2-targeted therapies and radiotherapy. This review explores the cardiovascular [CV] implications of modern breast cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, targeted agents, radiotherapy, and emerging modalities such as immunotherapy. It also highlights the impact of patient-specific factors—such as diabetes, lipid profile, and treatment duration—on CVD risk. Current data suggest that breast cancer survivors are at increased risk of CVD compared to the general population, and that risk persists for years after treatment completion. CVD risk profile of each patient is different because of patient age, previous risk factors, and type of oncological treatment, and must be carefully delineated and keep well in mind during and after cancer treatment.