“There are some intricacies in taking care of cancer patients that go a little above and beyond a general cardiology approach,” says Dr. It can determine if further testing, such as cardiac imaging studies or medications, are necessary. She emphasizes the importance of undergoing a cardiovascular risk assessment from a doctor who specializes in providing this level of care. Baldassarre recommends seeking cardio-oncology care early. What does a cardio-oncologist do?įor people undergoing cancer treatment, Dr. And while inflammation can be helpful in the short term to help the body mount a defense against an infection-or cancer-over a long period of time, inflammation can irritate arteries and blood vessels and cause blood clots or plaque buildup-triggers for having a heart attack, she says. Hull, MD, MBE, a Yale Medicine cardiologist, who is part of the Cardio-Oncology Program at Smilow. What’s more, there are cardiovascular risks associated with simply having cancer. “Cancer is a pro-inflammatory state,” explains Sarah C. “Our goal is to take care of patients so they can get through their cancer treatment without developing new or worsened cardiovascular disease.” “We’re here to support and protect hearts while people are getting cancer therapies,” says Yale Medicine cardiologist Lauren Baldassarre, MD, director of the program. This level of expertise is not widely available elsewhere. These cardiac problems don’t happen to everyone undergoing cancer treatment, but they arise often enough that Yale Medicine’s Cardio-Oncology Program at Smilow Cancer Hospital has on-staff specialists focused on their prevention and treatment. Not only can people develop cancer treatment-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD)-the decreased ability of the left ventricle to pump blood effectively, which may lead to heart failure-they can also develop any number of other heart problems including hypertension, arrhythmia, inflammation of the pericardium (the sac-like membrane surrounding the heart), or progressive coronary artery disease. That’s because many of the treatments used to fight cancer, including certain chemotherapies, chest radiation, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies, can have toxic effects on the heart. ![]() ![]() Some cancer treatments can injure the heart muscle and blood vessels, increasing the risk of developing heart disease in the days, weeks, months, or years following cancer treatment. But cardio-oncologists (cardiologists who specialize in caring for people who have cancer) often urge careful monitoring of your heart before, during, and after cancer therapy-all times when your heart may be at risk. ![]() If you’ve just been diagnosed with cancer or are preparing to start treatment, heart health might be the furthest thing from your mind.
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