Cardio-Oncology

Research shows that people who receive cardio-oncology care during cancer treatment have better long-term heart health than those who don't.

These side effects can cause new short- or long-term problems such as:

• Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
• Cardiomyopathy (decreased pumping ability)
• Ischemia (reduced blood supply to the heart muscle)
• Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle)

The University of Iowa Heart and Vascular Center is one of the few centers in the state with a cardio-oncology program. If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, we’ll monitor you frequently during treatment. We’ll also monitor you after recovery, for as long as we think it’s necessary.

Our goal is to catch any signs of heart disease as early as possible and treat it as soon as possible.

Even though many of our patients are newly diagnosed with cancer, we also see people who had cancer treatments earlier in life. That’s because certain cardiovascular problems may not show up until years later.

You may benefit from a consultation with one of our cardio-oncologists if you:

• Had cancer treatment during childhood, which can affect the heart
• Have ever received radiation to your chest

We can help you understand your cardiovascular risks, recommend a screening plan, and coordinate any services you need to prevent or treat heart problems.

Once we understand your risks, we’ll let you know how often we’ll screen your heart and what tests you’ll need. Ongoing monitoring helps us detect heart problems early, when they’re often easier to treat and less likely to interrupt your cancer care.

The tests you’ll need depend on your risk factors and any symptoms you develop. We offer the full range of cardiac imaging procedures, including echocardiograms, cardiac CT scans, and cardiac MRI.

Access to advanced treatments

If your test results show any signs of heart disease, you’ll receive prompt care and support from UI Heart and Vascular Center cardiovascular experts. Depending on how your heart is affected, your treatments may include:

• Medications that help lower your blood pressure, regulate your heartbeat, or reduce inflammation in the tissue around your heart
• Interventional procedures to get rid of blood clots or drain excess fluid around your heart
• Implanted devices that help your heart pump blood (such as a ventricular assist device) or restore normal heart rhythm (pacemaker)

We also offer advanced treatments for patients who develop serious complications. These include heart valve surgery and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).