Questions to Ask Your Doctor

If you've been diagnosed with cancer, there are several key questions about radiation and your heart that you should ask your health care professional during your next visit. These questions will ensure that you and your doctor have talked about major risk factors so that you can stay as healthy as possible.

• What should be done to account for my pacemaker during my radiation treatment?
• Do I need any special tests or checks of my pacemaker before, during, or after my radiation?
• Are there any ways to decrease the dose of radiation to my heart during treatment?
• What chemotherapies increase my risk of heart damage when combined with radiation?
• What type of cardiac monitoring will I receive before, during and after my cancer treatment?
• What medications may be used to protect the heart before radiation treatment?
• Can having diabetes or smoking affect my risk of developing heart side effects from radiation?
• What steps can I take to help reduce my risk of developing cardiotoxicity?
• What symptoms might be a sign of cardiotoxicity? When should I call my cancer team right away?