Cardio-Oncology

Our Program Goals

• Ensure better outcomes for patients with heart disease and cancer
• Recognize early cardio toxicity from therapy
• Prevent, reduce, and if possible, reverse cardiac damage
• Monitor patients with potential cardiac issues undergoing chemo or radiation therapy
• Understand cardiac issues during cancer therapy
• Remove cardiac disease as a barrier to effective cancer therapy
• Participate in establishing best survival practices for cardiac surveillance after therapy

Who Is This For?

• The focus is on three groups:
• Those with existing heart disease who develop cancer to ensure their heart can withstand the stress of treatment. All these patients need to see their cardiologist to be referred.
• Those who are considered cancer survivors and have either undergone radiation therapy with portals that have included the heart, or received cardio toxic regimens.
• Those currently undergoing chemotherapy with cardio toxic agents to monitor for subtle changes in cardiac function that may signal an early decrease in cardiac function. 

What Cardio-Oncology Treatments Do We Provide?

Risk Assessment

Before undergoing medical or surgical treatments for cancer, it is important to understand your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. We work closely with your oncologist and provide a comprehensive evaluation before cancer therapy to minimize any potential cardiovascular complications from cancer treatment. We combine a complete, personalized assessment with appropriate diagnostic testing and optimal cardiovascular therapies.

Care for Cancer Patients with Existing Cardiovascular Disease

Management of conditions such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, heart valve disease, and arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) in cancer patients requires an approach customized to their overall care. Our goal is to treat existing cardiac conditions so that you are healthy enough to respond well to your cancer treatment.

Monitoring for Cardiac Complications                  from Cancer Therapy

If you are actively receiving chemotherapy or have previously completed chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, you may experience symptoms related to hypertension, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, valvular heart disease, pericardial disease, and arrhythmias. With early recognition and treatment, many complications of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy can be managed successfully.

Assessment of Long-Term Cardiac Risk in Cancer Survivors

There is increasing evidence that shows that survivors of cancer face higher risks of cardiovascular disease. We provide a comprehensive risk assessment that includes a detailed history, physical examination, lab work, and diagnostic testing. Strategies to reduce cardiac risk include dietary and lifestyle modifications and, when appropriate, medical therapy.

Assessment of New Chemotherapies

Many of the new chemotherapeutic agents in clinical and pre-clinical studies have the potential to damage the heart. We administer advanced diagnostic tests to identify cardiotoxicities for patients undergoing treatment with new chemotherapies. These may include diagnostic imaging, noninvasive stress testing, blood tests, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and continuous monitoring of a patient’s heart from a remote location can help identify cardiotoxicities and lead to the development of preventative strategies.

Evaluation of Cardio-Toxicity

At Lee Health, we have advanced ultrasound imaging including 3D and cardiac strain imaging to detect subtle changes in the heart before they become clinically evident which is crucial for cancer management. In our evaluation we are looking at the effects of cancer therapy on the cardiac tissue, structures, blood supply, and system function.

What You Should Know

• Heart disease and cancer have shared biology and risk factors
• It is well established that cancer survivors die of cardiovascular disease in greater numbers than recurrent cancer
• The number of cancer survivors is increasing dramatically and the majority of those are over 65 (the so-called silver tsunami of cancer care).
• The number of novel cancer agents is extraordinary both in their efficacy and their adverse cardiovascular effects which necessitates a strategy to care for these patients during active treatment and beyond
• Childhood cancer treatments have lasting cardiac effects, these patients need to be monitored lifelong
• Data exists to demonstrate that patient care, patient and provider satisfaction, and Quality of Life for cancer patients are all increased with a coordinated Cardio-Oncology program, while costs and interruptions in cancer therapy are lowered with such programs.