Developing a cardio-oncology education programme for nurses

As populations age, the likelihood of living with both cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become more commonplace. While advances in treatment have transformed outcomes for both conditions, their coexistence presents a complex set of issues. For many patients, cancer treatment begins with a history of established cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension or hypercholesterolaemia. For others, cardiovascular complications including heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, or atrial fibrillation emerge during therapy as a consequence of cancer treatments (known as cardiotoxicity). When these cardiovascular complications occur, the boundaries between the specialties blur, and care must be thoughtfully coordinated between oncology and cardiology.