Cardio-Oncology Care

Dr. Polin checking a cardio-oncology patient's heartbeat.

Why choose Ochsner Health for your cardio-oncology care?

Chemotherapy and other forms of cancer therapy can cause stress to the entire body, especially the heart. During and after your cancer treatment, you may be at an increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease. Ochsner’s cardio-oncology program is here to help patients from Louisiana and Mississippi address these issues.

Ochsner’s cardio-oncology care brings together experts from Ochsner’s cancer care program and the Heart & Vascular Institute. Our innovative program, one of the few of its type in the United States, offers specialized care for the cardiovascular side effects of cancer treatments. As a result, we’re able to increase the well-being for cancer patients and cancer survivors before, during and after their cancer treatment.

Our team of cardiology-oncology experts works closely together using an innovative approach designed to prevent, reduce and treat cardiac conditions and cardiovascular diseases that arise from treatment for cancer. The cardio-oncology clinic stands by patients every step of the way to ensure quality care and the best possible outcomes.

Ochsner’s cardiology and oncology departments have received numerous awards and accolades over the years for its level of expertise and commitment to patients, as well as providing quality care and forging new paths for cardiovascular and oncology care.

We offer cardio-oncology care at Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans.

Chemotherapy, radiation and some targeted therapies and immunotherapies can cause damage to the heart or make existing heart or vascular problems worse. This damage, known as cardiotoxicity, can happen during treatment or can develop years after treatment is over.

Heart issues that can develop during or after cancer treatment include:

Blood clots

Congestive heart failure — weakening of the heart muscle that reduces the heart’s ability to pump blood

Coronary artery disease — a type of heart disease that develops when plaque builds up in the arteries that supply blood to the heart

Heart arrhythmias — an irregular heartbeat

Hypertension — elevation of your blood pressure

Pericarditis — inflammation or swelling of the pericardium, a sac that surrounds the heart to hold it in place

If your cancer treatment affects your heart, we will consult with your oncologist to devise a plan to continue to safely treat your cancer and your heart. We use various tests to monitor your heart during treatment, which may include electrocardiograms, blood tests to monitor your heart biomarkers and advanced imaging techniques, such as echocardiography with strain.

To treat heart issues, we commonly prescribe medications. If needed, we also place stents, pacemakers and more.

After cancer treatment is complete, Ochsner cardio-oncology patients can continue seeing their cardiologist for any of their heart care needs.

FAQs

Cardio-oncologists are cardiologists who treat current cancer patients and cancer survivors.

Cardiotoxicity is damage that occurs to the heart and/or blood vessels during or after cancer treatment. Symptoms of cardiotoxicity can interrupt or stop cancer treatment. They can also develop after treatment is complete. The Ochsner cardio-oncology clinic works to prevent, reduce and treat cardiac issues that may interrupt cancer treatment.

Echocardiograms are often used during cancer treatment to monitor cancer patients for cardiotoxicity.