Breast cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity for women in the United States, impacting one out of every eight women. Fortunately, with advancements in screening and treatments, survivorship is becoming more common.
Breast cancer treatments, however, have short- and long-term implications on other organs, including the heart. Therefore, strategies are now in place to monitor this vulnerable population. Northside Hospital has developed a specialized team of cardiologists to provide cardiac care during and after treatments for all cancers, including breast cancer.
The Cardio-Oncology Program at Northside includes a group of cardiologists across multiple locations with specialized training and education in understanding the needs of cancer patients who are at high risk for heart disease. With dedicated protocols for education and training of providers, along with ease of access to consultation and imaging appointments for patients, this program is now recognized by the International Cardio-Oncology Society, receiving the highest distinction.
For patients with breast cancer, heart disease continues to be a leading cause of mortality, due to shared risk factors, such as obesity and smoking. Furthermore, chemotherapy and radiation can accelerate the course of cardiovascular disease, particularly hypertension, coronary artery disease and valvular heart disease. Given the prevalence of heart disease, it is important to assess risks before initiating lifesaving cancer treatment.
Northside’s Cardio-Oncology Program offers set protocols for serial surveillance via EKG, echocardiogram, labs and higherlevel modalities and procedures (e.g., nuclear stress testing, CT/MRI, catheterizations) when needed. For example, anthracycline chemotherapy (e.g., doxorubicin, epirubicin) and HER2-directed therapies (e.g., trastuzumab), often used to treat breast cancer, can directly damage cardiac cells, initiating left ventricular dysfunction, hence serial monitoring with echocardiogram may be required every three months. Long-term monitoring may also be recommended based on personalized risk, as some adverse outcomes may become apparent after 10 or more years. With close monitoring from cardio-oncology specialists, early signs and symptoms of these complications can be identified and cardio-protective medications (such as beta blockers) can be initiated to mitigate heart disease while continuing cancer therapies.
The goal is to treat cancer while protecting the heart from acute and chronic impact of chemotherapy and radiation, while also addressing pre-existing conditions.
The Cardio-Oncology Program at Northside is a joint initiative between the Northside Hospital Heart Institute and Northside Hospital Cancer Institute.
Learn more about the Cardio-Oncology Program.
