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Other PLAIN summaries
- Asymptomatic coronary artery disease
- Bone problems
- Cancer-related fatigue
- Central precocious puberty – CPP
- Chronic pain
- Craniofacial growth problems
- Dental and oral problems
- Dyslipidemia
- Eye problems
- Gastro-intestinal problems
- Hair loss
- Health promotion
- Hearing problems
- Heart problems
- Higher risk groups
- HP axis problems
- Hypertension
- Impaired glucose metabolism and diabetes
- Kidney problems
- Liver problems
- Lower urinary tract problems
- Lung problems
- Male fertility problems, testosterone deficiency and sexual dysfunction
- Mental health problems
- Neurocognitive problems
- Obstetric problems
- Overweight and obesity
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Premature ovarian insufficiency
- Psychosocial problems
- Spine scoliosis and kyphosis
- Spleen problems
- Stroke
- Subsequent neoplasms:
- Thyroid problems
DYSLIPIDAEMIA
This page is part of the PanCare PLAIN summaries about late effects and recommendations for long-term follow-up care for survivors of childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer. Click here, for more information on the PLAIN summaries.
On this page you can find:
This PLAIN summary is based on the PanCareFollowUp guideline about “Dyslipidemia” [1] , which is based on the consensus of different national guidelines.
PLAIN version 2.1: 27/05/2024
Dyslipidaemia
To function properly, the body needs fat. Fats are a type of lipid and can be found in both animal and plant products. The body can use lipids as a source of energy but also as building blocks for the structure of the body’s cells.
Lipids can be found in all parts of the body, including the bloodstream. When someone has high levels of lipids in the blood, this is called dyslipidaemia. There are two types of dyslipidaemia: hypercholesterolemia (characterised by unusually high LDL levels in the blood) and hypertriglyceridemia (characterised by unusually high triglyceride levels in the blood). Dyslipidaemia increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. If too many lipids build up in the liver, this can cause fatty liver disease (steatosis).
Most survivors do not develop dyslipidaemia. There are a number of things anyone can do to lower your risk of developing dyslipidaemia, such as exercising (more) and eating a healthy diet low in cholesterol and fat.
Fats
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Hover over the numbers in the figure for more information.
Survivors
Am I at higher risk of dyslipidaemia?
Anyone, including people who have never had cancer treatment, may develop dyslipidaemia. However, there are some cancer treatments that may increase the risk of having dyslipidaemia later in life.
The following treatment can increase the risk of dyslipidaemia:
- Radiotherapy to the entire body, also known as total body irradiation (TBI)
- Stem cell transplantation
You can find out if you have received any of these treatments by looking at your treatment summary. If you do not have a treatment summary or if you have any questions, do contact your treating hospital.
If you experience dyslipidaemia, it does not always mean that this is caused by your cancer treatment. Dyslipidaemia may have other causes, such as being overweight, having diabetes and older age. For more information on overweight and obesity and diabetes, please read: Overweight and obesity and Impaired glucose metabolism and diabetes. If dyslipidaemia is common in your family, this may also increase your risk of having dyslipidemia.
Stem cell transplantation
Stem cell transplantation means that blood stem cells are taken out of the body of a person and transplanted back into the same person (autologous) or to another person (allogeneic).
This procedure is often used to treat diseases such as leukaemia and lymphoma, and some solid tumours (such as neuroblastoma) as well as certain immune system and genetic disorders.
There are different types of stem cell transplants, including:
- Autologous Transplant: Uses the patient’s own stem cells, which are harvested before treatments like chemotherapy or radiation and then returned to the body to help recover.
- Allogeneic Transplant: Uses stem cells from a donor. The donor can be a relative (often a sibling) or someone unrelated with a matching tissue type.
The blood stem cells can be harvested in different ways. They can either be taken out of the blood stream (peripheral blood stem cell transplantation) or out of the bone marrow (bone marrow transplantation).
During the transplantation process, the patient often undergoes a treatment to kill the diseased bone marrow cells before receiving the new stem cells through an intravenous line, similar to a blood transfusion. After the transplant, it takes time for the new stem cells to grow and start producing healthy blood cells, during which the patient needs close medical care to prevent and manage potential complications, such as infections or graft-versus-host disease (in case of allogeneic transplants).
Radiotherapy
Your treatment summary can tell you which areas of your body were irradiated. If you do not have a treatment summary or if you don’t understand what is written about the radiotherapy you received, do contact your treating hospital.
Radiotherapy is a treatment for cancer which uses high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells and to shrink tumours. The radiation comes from a machine outside the body (external beam radiotherapy) or occasionally from radioactive material that is placed in the body near cancer cells (intracavitary or interstitial radiotherapy). The aim of radiotherapy is to treat only one area of the body, around and near the cancer or where the cancer was before it was removed by surgery and as far as possible to protect unaffected areas. For example, if you have cancer in your lung, you will have radiation only to your chest, not to your whole body.
External beam radiotherapy is painless and takes only a few minutes. It is given once or occasionally twice a day often for several weeks. A radiation beam is like an invisible light beam. The machines which produce the radiation beam can be moved so that the beam enters the body from different directions, ‘spotlighting’ on the area to be treated. This means that the tumour is given a high dose whilst normal areas get either a lower or no dose at all.
Since the early 1980’s computers and other technical advances have improved radiotherapy. Before this there were not many ways to protect normal tissues which were in the path of a radiation beam. Even now, whilst modern techniques allow doctors to target the cancer cells more precisely than older techniques, healthy cells may still get damaged. This can result in some of the late effects covered in the PLAIN summaries. It will help you and your follow up specialist to know what long term effects there might be after your radiotherapy if you and they have your treatment summary.
Your treatment summary can tell you which areas of your body were irradiated. If you do not have a treatment summary or if you don’t understand what is written about the radiotherapy you received, please contact your treating hospital.
What are the symptoms and signs of dyslipidaemia?
Dyslipidaemia usually does not cause any symptoms. However, it is important to detect it so that treatment can be started to lower the risk of more severe consequences such as a stroke or heart problems. For more information on strokes and heart problems, please read: Stroke and Heart problems.
Your general practitioner or follow-up care specialist can measure your blood lipid levels by doing a blood test (see I am at higher risk of dyslipidaemia. What tests should I have and when?)
If too many lipids build up in the liver, this can cause fatty liver disease (steatosis). Fatty liver disease usually does not cause any symptoms. For more information on liver problems, please read: Liver problems.
Sometimes hypercholesterolemia can cause xanthomas, which are yellowish deposits of cholesterol. Xanthomas can occur anywhere in the skin, but occur most often around the eyelids, joints (where the bones make contact) and tendons (the connection between bones and muscles).
Symptoms and signs
I am at higher risk of dyslipidaemia. What tests should I have and when?
If you are at higher risk of dyslipidaemia, it is advised to:
- Have a blood test (fasting lipid profile) done at least every 5 years, starting no later than the age of 40. It is important to have this test done in the morning, before you have breakfast.
What happens if I have dyslipidaemia?
If you have dyslipidaemia, your general practitioner or follow-up specialist will probably refer you to a specialist. Depending on the cause of dyslipidaemia, you may be referred to an:
- Endocrinologist (physician specialised in hormones and metabolism)
- Dietician or nutritionist (specialists who advise on eating habits and lifestyle)
The specialist may discuss different treatment options with you such as improving your diet and lifestyle. They may also prescribe you medication to lower your blood lipid level.
You may also be advised to have your weight, blood pressure and blood glucose (sugar) measured regularly. When you have dyslipidaemia, it is important to be aware of other factors that may influence your risk of (future) problems with the heart or blood vessels. For more information on overweight and obesity, high blood pressure or diabetes, please read: Overweight and obesity, Hypertension, Impaired glucose metabolism and diabetes.
Hormone
What else can I do?
Knowing that you may be at increased risk of dyslipidaemia can be difficult. Talking to friends and family can be helpful as well as specialist counselling and/or contact with support groups, such as patient organisations. For more information on taking care of your mental health, please read: Mental health problems.
To lower your blood lipid level (or keep a healthy blood lipid level), adopting or maintaining a healthy lifestyle is extremely important. Taking care of your mental health may be beneficial; even small changes to your lifestyle can have a positive impact on both your physical and mental health. For more information on taking up a healthier lifestyle, please read: Health promotion.
It is important that you are aware of the possibility of developing dyslipidaemia and that you know the symptoms and signs. If you have any further questions or if the information in this brochure worries you, please contact your general practitioner or follow-up care specialist.
Healthy lifestyle
- Having a healthy diet
- Drinking less (or no) alcohol
- Exercising regularly
- Quitting smoking (if you smoke)
Your follow-up care specialist or general practitioner may give you additional advice tailored to your individual situation for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. For more information on taking up a healthier lifestyle, please read: Health promotion.
Where can I find more information?
You may find more information about dyslipidaemia online. However, it is important to be aware that this information is not always up to date or accurate.
Some sources of further information are:
- European Society of Cardiology (ESC): Here you can find more information about guidelines to manage dyslipidaemia
- Diabetes.co.uk: Here you can find more information about dyslipidemia in general
On this website, you can also find more information related to this topic:
Please note
This PLAIN summary is based on the PanCareFollowUp guideline about “Dyslipidemia” [1], which is based on the consensus of different national guidelines.
While the PanCare PLAIN information group strives to provide accurate and complete information that is up-to-date as of the date of publication, you can check with your general practitioner or follow-up care specialist if this summary reflects the most up-to-date information available and whether it is relevant for you.
Please do not rely solely on this information. It is best to also seek the advice of a qualified medical practitioner if you have questions regarding a specific medical condition, disease, diagnosis or symptom.
No warranty or representation, expressed or implied, is made concerning the accuracy, reliability, completeness, relevance, or timeliness of this information. PanCare has produced the English version and PanCare is not responsible for the translated versions of this summary.
The PanCare materials are free to use for anyone aiming to inform about late effects and long-term survivorship care. However, no financial advantage may be achieved. All communication should reference PanCare and link to the PanCare website.
[1] van Kalsbeek, R. et al. (2021) European PANCAREFOLLOWUP recommendations for surveillance of late effects of childhood, adolescent, and Young Adult Cancer, European journal of cancer. Available at: https://www.ejcancer.com/article/S0959-8049(21)00368-3/fulltext.