JOANNE QUILLEN, MSN, APRN, PNP-BC

CERTAIN TYPES OF RADIATION and chemotherapy can affect the cardiovascular system (i.e., heart, blood vessels, heart valves, and pericardium). Problems can occur during treatment, or months to years after treatment ends. Because children, teens, and adult survivors can appear well and be active despite heart damage, it is important to know if you are at risk and to obtain careful follow-up screening and testing to identify and treat problems early. It is also reassuring to find out if your particular treatments did not increase your risk of any of these problems.