Childhood Cancer Drugs Cure Now, May Cause Problems Later, Research Shows

A recent study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology is searching for genetic answers to why some childhood cancer survivors are developing cardiomyopathy such as congestive heart failure later in their lives. Anthracylines (a powerful antiboitic) have been very effective in treating cancer in children, it is also used to treat breast cancer, but patients treated with this drug are the ones developing heart problems. The dosage of these drugs has to be very precise in order to avoid toxicity which can occur anywhere from one year to fifteen years after chemotherapy.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111216175244.htm