Radiation Induced Coronary Artery Disease

Radiation for cancer treatments have been known to cause coronary artery disease (CAD). Post comments here about radiation induced coronary artery diease and treatment.

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Current Postings on This Page (3):

• Thank you for this helpful information. I think a stent is the best answer for me. Taking pills for a year would not be a problem for me so I'll check which one they are thinking of.
taniafrance, France, March 3, 2012

• taniafrance -- The articles you've been reading refer to stable patients...and there is controversy there as well. For the latest, read our commentary from yesterday on "Stents vs. Pills". There aren't many studies on the treatment of radiation-induced CAD (RICAD) but what has been done basically states that RICAD should be treated like any CAD. If angina and symptoms can be controlled with drugs and lifestyle modifications, thn medical therapy is the first choice. But if symptom relief is not provided, then revascularization is the next step. Because of the nature of the blockage being due probably more to fibrotic material from the radiation, stents may be a better alternative than surgery. As for the two types of stents, the drug-eluting variety, especially the newest second-generation stents, have been shown to be very efficacious and safe. However, it is necessary to take dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin plus Plavix or equivalent) for a year afterwards. Bare metals stents don't perform as well in some cases, but the length of time that Plavix must be taken is greatly reduced.
Angioplasty.Org Staff, Angioplasty.Org, March 1, 2012

• Hello, Have blockage in right artery due to heavy radiation for cancer. cholesterol levels good. plaque not an issue. good diet, normal weight, non-smoker, exercise. so my blockage is not due to the usual reasons. sort of a mechanical failure due to the radiation. My question is, should I go through with angioplasty and stent?I'd like to know if there are any others who've had blockage due to radiation and what they've done and how it's worked I've been reading lots of reports (going back to 2007) that angioplasty isn't any better than just taking drugs and suggests it's being over done. but in my case, would alone help since it's not a cholesterol issue? I have angina due to the blockage, the chest pain started with the severe cold weather. what's the difference between the 2 stents? thanks
taniafrance, France, March 1, 2012

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