Cancer treatments can have unintended consequences for the heart. Our Cardio-Oncology program helps minimize this risk by providing highly specialized cardiovascular care to cancer patients. We offer advanced diagnostic tools, like echocardiograms, to assess heart health before, during, and after treatment. This allows us to customize monitoring and treatment strategies to the specific needs of each patient.
Our multidisciplinary team is made up of cardiologists and oncologists. They collaborate to develop personalized treatment plans for each patient to improve cancer outcomes and cardiovascular well-being.
About Cardio-Oncology
Cancer and cardiovascular disease are leading causes of death in the US, but advancements in cancer treatment have improved patient outcomes and increased the number of survivors. However, a new challenge has emerged—the potential cardiovascular side effects of those treatments.
This growing link between cancer and heart health has given rise to a new medical specialty: cardio-oncology (or onco-cardiology).
Patients We See
Our patients may have pre-existing issues or are receiving certain types of cancer treatment that can affect the heart, like radiation to the chest. We provide a full range of services for patients undergoing treatment for cancer and survivors of cancer who remain at risk for cardiovascular complications:
Pre-Cancer Treatment Assessment
Before starting cancer therapy, we meet with patients who are at high risk of developing complications from cancer therapy or have pre-existing cardiovascular disease. This allows us to assess and reduce cardiovascular risk factors and existing diseases when starting cancer therapy.
During Cancer Therapy
We help manage the acute cardiovascular issues that can occur from certain cancer therapies to ensure we safely guide patients through treatment.
Survivorship
We follow patients who either develop cardiovascular issues while undergoing cancer therapy or remain at high risk. This includes partnering with pediatric oncology programs to ensure appropriate cardiovascular monitoring and allows us to lessen the risk for patients who received chemotherapy or radiation during childhood.
Our Experts
Research and Clinical Trials
ATRIUM Clinical Trial
We are currently an enrolling site for a multi-center clinical trial, Abatacept in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Myocarditis (ATRIUM). The purpose of this trial is to understand and explore treatment options for immune checkpoint inhibitory myocarditis, a rare, but serious, complication of certain immunotherapy treatments.
Talk to your care team to see if you might be a good candidate for this trial.
Cardiovascular disease in cancer survivors
Dr. Florido studies the link between cancer and heart disease. Her research shows that adult cancer survivors have a much higher risk of heart problems, including heart failure, even when traditional risk factors are absent. She continues to explore what leads to this increased risk in cancer survivors.
