Breast cancer survivors face greater risk from heart attack than from breast cancer

“The Book of Broken Hearts,” “The Queen of Broken Hearts,” even “Broken Hearts, Fences and Other Things to Mend” ... the list of novels devoted to figuring out how girls and women can repair broken hearts is centuries-long. But for women in the U.S. who have survived breast cancer (the American Cancer Society estimates that 90 percent of breast cancer patients are alive five years after diagnosis), the challenge is to avoid a broken heart altogether. That’s because the No. 1 cause of death for breast cancer survivors is heart disease.

Unfortunately, women tend to gain weight during breast cancer treatment, and afterward they often develop metabolic syndrome (elevated blood pressure, triglycerides/LDL cholesterol and glucose and/or excess body fat around the waist) and Type 2 diabetes. That spikes their risk for death from stroke, heart failure or heart attack, say researchers in a new study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. And, just to cause more trouble, metabolic syndrome also increases the risk of cancer recurrence.

The smart move? Make sure that post-treatment, you get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, plus resistance/strength training weekly. In this study of 100 women post-breast-cancer treatment, only 15 per cent of those who followed that exercise regimen for four months developed metabolic syndrome, but 80 per cent of those in the no-exercise control group did. So talk with your doc about starting an exercise regimen and a stress-management program, and choose healthy oils and appropriate portion sizes. These choices will raise your spirits and help save your life.