Cardio-Oncology
Cardio-oncology is a subspecialty of oncology and cardiology that focuses on the care of cancer patients with cardiovascular disease and the management of cancer treatments that may impact the heart and cardiovascular system. This field has been developed as a response to the growing body of evidence that cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapies based on cancer genome sequencing, and radiation therapies, can cause cardiovascular damage and increase the risk of heart disease in cancer survivors.
Cardio-oncology specialists work to provide care for cancer patients with preexisting cardiovascular disease, as well as identifying and managing cardiovascular risk factors that may arise during cancer treatment. This includes using tools like cardiovascular imaging, biomarkers, and risk stratification to assess patients before, during, and after cancer treatment, as well as coordinating care with oncologists and other healthcare providers to ensure that cancer treatment plans take into account the potential risks to the cardiovascular system. This field utilizes expertise to identify and expeditiously and appropriately treat and resolve side effects of therapy.
The goal of cardio-oncology is to provide comprehensive care to cancer patients and survivors, with the aim of improving their quality of life and long-term outcomes. This includes preventing, identifying, and treating cardiovascular disease, as well as developing and testing new treatments and strategies to mitigate the cardiovascular risks of cancer therapy. The physicians at The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute are leaders in this new and important field of oncology.