Chest pain after cancer treatment could be caused by heart or lung damage from chemotherapy, radiotherapy or targeted therapies. 

When to Seek Immediate Help

Always contact emergency services (999) if you experience:

• Chest pain or tightness.
• Difficulty breathing or severe breathlessness.
• Pain radiating to the arm, neck, or back

If you are experiencing anxiety, your chest pain could be in response to the flight or fight response, resulting in a rapid heart rate, muscle tension and hyperventilation.  It often feels like sharp, stabbing pain or localized tightness, usually subsiding within 10–20 minutes.

While common, anxiety-related chest pain can feel similar to heart attacks, so medical evaluation is crucial to rule out cardiac issues.

Key Characteristics of Anxiety Chest Pain

• Duration: Often comes on quickly and goes away within 10-20 minutes, though it can last longer.
• Location: Usually stays in the centre or left side of the chest, rather than spreading
• Sensation: Described as sharp, stabbing, aching, or a feeling of pressure.
• Triggers: Often occurs during a high-stress moment or panic attack. 

Anxiety vs. Heart Attack Symptoms

• Anxiety Pain: Tends to be sharp, localized, and may feel worse when breathing deeply, but not necessarily with exertion.
• Heart Attack Pain: Often feels like pressure, squeezing, or heaviness that radiates to the arms, back, or jaw and often worsens with physical activity.