imagined, but in other circumstances can provoke heart illness or exacerbate pre-existing health problems. Modern types of cancer therapies may cause side effects such as arrhythmia, hypertension, and even heart failure.
Northwest Health Hospital in Valparaiso launched a cardio-oncology program for high-risk cancer patients in order to provide care that is tailored to each patient’s specific requirements during their cancer therapy. They will initially go through a series of tests that will include a physical exam, cardiac testing, a review of their medical history, and imaging tests such as an echocardiography, among other things.
In the beginning, the initiative will concentrate on breast cancer patients who are having chemotherapy or radiation treatment at the Valparaiso hospital. In the long run, it will be expanded across the Northwest Health system and will include different forms of cancer. The objective is that by combining cardiology and cancer, patient care would improve, leading to the best possible results.
Dr. Maya Kommineni, cardiologist and medical director of the new cardio-oncology program at Northwest Health Porter hospital, spoke about the heart health of cancer patients. He said, “With this new program, cancer patients at risk for potential heart conditions will be monitored by a cardiologist to detect and treat issues early thus maximizing heart health during and after cancer treatment. A team of cardiologists and oncologists are working together to prevent, stop or reverse any cancer-related heart conditions in patients.”
