Risks of Stroke in Young Cancer Patients

Introduction

Cancer makes the body amenable to various other problems or disorders in the body. The body becomes prey to multiple disorders either due to the cancer treatment or due to the disease itself. Even with many advancements in cancer therapy, the treatment is still a ghastly one. Many studies and observations are being conducted while still trying to associate a relationship between cancer and stroke. There is an increase in the number of deaths from cancer-associated strokes than unrelated isolated strokes. This is an observation and a reality as well. The proof that cancer causes stroke in young adults is yet to be derived.

Does Cancer Cause Stroke?

Many studies have provided a review that the risk of stroke is increased after the diagnosis of cancer. This risk has, surprisingly, turned multifold in young individuals. It is observed that most cancer patients did not die due to cancer but died due to heart and vascular problems. Many cancers like breast and prostate cancers have led to cardiovascular death in patients younger than 35 years.

Researchers have studied the data obtained by surveillance, epidemiology, and results (SEER) only to know the prevalence of cardiovascular deaths in cancer patients. It is observed that most of the cardiovascular deaths that occurred in cancer patients were from:

• Heart Disease: Any disease or condition related to the heart or its blood vessels is called heart disease. The common heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD) which can be the reason for heart attack.

• High Blood Pressure: It is also called hypertension. In this condition, the pressure of blood flow against the walls of blood vessels is high, i.e. 140/90 mm of Hg or higher.

• Cerebrovascular Disease: A disease in which the blood flow and blood vessels of the brain are affected.

• Blocked Arteries: Arteries are the blood vessels that deliver healthy blood from the heart to the tissues of the body. When the walls of these arteries become thick due to plaque formation, the vessel narrows down, leading to partial or complete blockage.

• Damaged Aorta: Aorta is the main artery that carries blood from the heart to various parts of the body. When there is damage to the inner wall of the aorta, the flow of the blood can lead to an increase in the size of the aortal tear, causing serious implications.

Most deaths in patients with breast cancer occur due to cardiovascular conditions and not due to cancer itself.

How Can Cancer Cause Stroke?

Stroke can be the result of various factors in the cancer patient. Few of which are as follows:

• Type of cancer.

• Duration of cancer.

• Type of treatments used for curing cancer.

• Age of the patient.

• Concomitant illness.

• Smoking.

Many more studies need to be conducted to come to the exact conclusion about why and how strokes occur in young cancer patients. Lifestyle and food habits can be considered attributable to stroke. Nevertheless, the causal association is yet to be established. An oncologist, while treating a cancer patient, is more worried, or the concentration is directed towards how to treat cancer. Medicine has reached a point where the deaths due to cancer have reduced comparatively, which is due to advancements in cancer therapies. A multidisciplinary team has to be formed while treating cancer patients that would focus on treatment delivery as well as the outcome.

There are no specific guidelines to predict or prevent stroke in cancer patients. Hence the doctors must treat cancer as a risk factor for stroke and then deliver the cancer treatment.

Who Is at Risk of Stroke Among Cancer Patients?

It is observed that most cardiovascular deaths in cancer patients occur either in high-risk or aggressive cancers, cancer survivors, or those who are in the face of remission. This group of patients is considered high-risk patients for cardiovascular death. Young head and neck cancer patients are at more risk of stroke. A larger number of cancer patients are observed to suffer from conditions like stroke, aneurysm, high blood pressure, and damage to blood vessels. The reasons why the patients suffer from these abnormalities, once they are diagnosed with cancer, are due to other illnesses or ailments such as lung dysfunction, kidney failure, and aggressive cancer treatments.

What Type of Cancers Cause Stroke in Young?

The type of cancers that predispose a patient to stroke are:

• Breast Cancer: It is a cancer of the breast in which the breast cells grow abnormally. It starts with a single breast which later on involves another breast as well.

• Cancer of the Larynx: When the cells in the larynx, also called the voice box, undergo malignant transformation, it develops into cancer in the larynx.

• Skin Cancer: Cells of the skin undergo abnormal multiplication and accumulation forming tumor masses to form skin cancer. This may be due to exposure to the sun, hazardous chemicals, or an autoimmune disease.

• Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: It is a cancer of the lymphatic system that includes lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels spreading throughout the body.

• Prostate Cancer: It is the cancer of the prostate gland. In males, this gland produces the seminal fluid that carries sperm. Hence, it is most commonly found in males.

• Thyroid Cancer: The abnormal multiplication of cells occurs in the thyroid tissues, causing thyroid cancer.

What Are the Other Effects of Cancer in Young Adults?

• Heart problems.

• Lung disorders.

• Fertility issues.

• Auditory impairments.

• Ocular abnormalities.

• Kidney problems.

• Generalized edema.

• Hormone deficiencies.

Conclusion:

Active cancer carries a higher risk in young adults for stroke. Though cancer has a poor prognosis, the risk factors must be kept in mind while delivering the treatment. Researchers hold very little information about the cause of stroke in young cancer patients. Advanced and aggressive cancers carry a higher risk for stroke in patients whereas cancer treatment itself carries a risk for stroke in young patients.