Find care now
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 or seek care at an emergency room.
When you or a loved one receives a cancer diagnosis, the initial emotions can be overwhelming. Soon, your thoughts naturally turn to the road ahead: appointments, treatment schedules, and becoming a cancer survivor.
It’s entirely natural to focus on oncology, but there’s a vital and vulnerable muscle that might not be on your mind: your heart.
While very effective at treating cancer, some modern therapies can pose risks to the cardiovascular system. Studies suggest that 16%-21% of people with cancer already have a heart or blood vessel condition. Systemic treatments can worsen existing heart conditions, and some can create new cardiovascular symptoms such as heart rhythm changes or chest discomfort.
That’s where cardio-oncology comes in.
Cardio-oncologists are heart specialists with extra training in how to protect the heart and blood vessels during and after cancer treatment. At MedStar Health, these experts have worked as essential partners alongside the cancer care team in our dedicated cardio-oncology program since 2012.
How do cardio-oncologists protect your heart?
Cardio-oncology is a specialized medical field in which we focus on the intersection of cancer treatment and cardiac safety. Our core philosophy mirrors the International Cardio-Oncology Society: We want to treat cancer and take care of the heart.
Our specialists work with you and your cancer care team to protect your heart throughout your cancer care journey:
-
Before treatment: We evaluate your baseline heart health and help you optimize it before cancer treatment begins. This includes comprehensive health assessments, understanding your personal risk of cardiac problems, and adjusting any heart medications you may already be already taking.
-
During treatment: We closely track how cancer therapies interact with your cardiovascular system to catch and manage any changes early on.
-
In survivorship: Our care doesn’t stop when cancer treatment ends. We stay with you in long-term survivorship to support your heart health and quality of life.
How modern cancer treatments affect the heart.
Over the past 20 years, modern cancer treatments such as advanced chemotherapies, immunotherapies, and targeted therapies have fundamentally changed cancer care. These innovations have dramatically improved survival rates, but they can also introduce unique heart-related side effects and complications.
Left unchecked, complications can lead to potentially serious cardiovascular problems such as:
-
Coronary Atherosclerosis/Heart attack
-
Stroke/blood clots
When a heart condition arises, the cancer team may have to lower the dose of a vital treatment or delay therapy until the heart condition can be managed/controlled. My goal as a cardio-oncologist is to help prevent those interruptions.
Warning signs to watch for during cancer care.
While many patients complete cancer treatment without experiencing any cardiac complications, keeping an eye on your symptoms is essential. Some heart-related symptoms overlap with standard side effects of cancer treatment. Knowing the difference on your own can be tricky.
Notify your care team right away if you notice any of these warning signs:
-
Chest pain or uncomfortable pressure
-
Racing, pounding, or irregular heart rate
-
Shortness of breath during regular activities or at rest
-
Unexplained spikes or drops in blood pressure
Having these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean your cancer treatment must stop. But it does mean it’s time for a cardio-oncologist to take a closer look.
Advanced diagnostics and collaboration.
To spot potential heart strain, MedStar Health uses advanced diagnostic and communication infrastructure.
We use leading tracking tools to monitor your heart throughout cancer care, including:
-
Targeted laboratory tests to check for early signs of heart strain
-
Advanced 3D interventional echocardiograms with the latest technical tracking capabilities
-
Cutting-edge cardiac MRI technology to provide detailed measurements of heart function
Every day, our cardio-oncologists are in touch with cancer experts throughout the system. This ongoing dialogue means your specialists can stay on the same page to tailor your care plan in real time.
Your heart is part of the cure.
Protecting your heart isn’t an obstacle to curing cancer; it’s a central part of the process.
If you or a loved one is preparing to begin cancer treatment, talk with your oncologist about including heart health in your care plan. With advanced cardiac monitoring and ongoing communication among your doctors, you can focus on treating your cancer while safeguarding your heart.
