Chen L, et al. - Researchers used a population-based cohort and four randomized trials enriched with long-term register data to determine if radiotherapy in combination with rectal cancer surgery is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Observations revealed that preoperative radiotherapy did not affect overall risk of CVD among rectal cancer patients. An excess risk of short-term venous thromboembolism was evident. However, the small increase in absolute numbers does not call for general changes in routine prophylactic treatment, but for patients already at high risk of venous thromboembolism, changes in routine prophylactic treatment might be required.