More people are living longer after a cancer diagnosis than at any time in the past thanks, in part, to new therapies and strategies for efficiently diagnosis and effectively treating cancer. Therapies used to combat many cancers, such as radiation and chemotherapy, as well as newer oral target treatment agents, have the potential to pose a risk to the health of your heart. These medications are sometimes termed “cardiotoxic.”
Cardiology and oncology specialists at RWJBarnabas Health, together with the Rutgers Cancer Institute, offer individuals a structured and highly collaborative Cardio-Oncology program that is laser-focused on identifying and minimizing the risk of heart disease throughout the cancer journey—from diagnosis through survivorship. The program is currently offered at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick and Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston.. For patients with preexisting heart disease, we also take proactive steps to detect, monitor and treat cardiac conditions throughout a patient’s treatment and after therapy as part of survivorship.
When a cancer diagnosis occurs, before treatment starts, our oncology and cardiology teams collaborate to obtain a cardiac evaluation, which may include advanced imaging, electrophysiology and laboratory evaluations. We then develop an individualized treatment plan - with cardiology and oncology experts working together for you - and continue prevention and screening techniques throughout the cancer therapy and subsequent follow-up.
We care for:
- Adult pediatric cancer survivors not currently under the management of a cardiologist, or who desire additional consultation via the Cardio-Oncology program
- Individuals who have been diagnosed with cancer and treatments have been identified as being potentially harmful to the heart
- Individuals with cancer who have a pre-existing heart condition or have been identified as being at an increased risk for developing heart disease
- Those who have completed cancer treatment and are experiencing cardiac issues or who may need closer surveillance due to prior potentially cardiotoxic treatments.
Cardiac conditions commonly cause by cardiotoxic cancer treatments:
- Heart failure
- Hypertension
- Hypotension
- Pericarditis
- Valve disease
- Coronary artery disease
- Peripheral artery disease
- Heart rhythm disturbances