What Increases Your Risk? 

Your overall health before beginning your cancer treatment may affect your risk of developing problems from anti-angiogenic therapy. Although all the factors that increase risk of complications are not clear, studies suggest they include:

• History of high blood pressure
• Older age
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• History of protein in your urine (proteinuria)

Known risk factors for heart disease, which include smoking and high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia), are also thought to be risk factors for anti-angiogenic-related problems. Some evidence also suggests that genetics and certain ethnicities play a role in risk, but research is ongoing.

Your doctor will screen for risk factors and work with you to lower your risk as much as possible.