A 45-year-old woman presents with shortness of breath and fatigue. She has a history of chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. On examination, her heart sounds are distant, and she has jugular venous distension. What might be the potential cause and the next steps?
This patient's symptoms, physical exam findings, and history of chemotherapy suggest possible chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy leading to heart failure. Certain chemotherapy agents, especially anthracyclines, can have cardiotoxic effects. The next steps would be to confirm the diagnosis with an echocardiogram and initiate treatment for heart failure, which may include medications like ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, and diuretics.