[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/06\/heart-cancer-care\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/06\/heart-cancer-care\/","headline":"Caring for the Hearts of Cancer Patients","name":"Caring for the Hearts of Cancer Patients","description":"UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute are teaming up for an innovative new program to provide cardiovascular care to people throughout their cancer journey.\u00a0 The program brings together the region\u2019s premier cancer specialists and leading cardiovascular experts to collaborate for the heart health of cancer patients.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cCancer patients have some unique […]","datePublished":"2020-06-21","dateModified":"2021-04-21","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","name":"Heart and Vascular Institute","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/heart-vascular","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/heart-and-vascular-institute\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/iStock-1046447804.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/iStock-1046447804.jpg","height":332,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/06\/heart-cancer-care\/","about":["Cancer Care","Health Topics A-Z","Heart and Vascular Health"],"wordCount":400,"articleBody":"UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute are teaming up for an innovative new program to provide cardiovascular care to people throughout their cancer journey.\u00a0The program brings together the region\u2019s premier cancer specialists and leading cardiovascular experts to collaborate for the heart health of cancer patients.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cCancer patients have some unique circumstances surrounding cardiovascular care and follow up,\u201d said Charles Reninger, MD, medical director of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. \u201cCertain cancer processes and therapies can increase the risk for cardiovascular issues, including heart attack and stroke.\u201d\u00a0Under this unique partnership, cancer patients are seen and managed by their cancer doctor. If a patient is identified as being at risk for cardiovascular disease, or experiences a problem during therapy, they will be sent to a cardiologist.\u00a0The Link Between Cancer and Cardiovascular Problems\u00a0As cancer patient survival rates increase, their battles\u00a0aren\u2019t\u00a0always in remission \u2014 they are often faced with other health dangers.\u201cOver the last couple decades, as cancer treatments have improved, we\u2019ve learned that more and more patients are not dying of cancer, they are actually dying from heart disease,\u201d noted Sunil Kanwal, MD, a cardiologist at UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute.\u00a0\u201cThrough this program, our emphasis is on identifying people at risk earlier and having aggressive interventions to avoid complications,\u201d added Dr. Reninger. \u201cFor example, some cancer patients come to us with comorbidities, like obesity or smoking, that significantly increase their risk of cardiovascular issues.\u201d\u00a0When a cancer patient is deemed at risk, the cardiologist works with them to manage their condition by addressing issues like high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, or obesity.\u00a0In other situations, some cancer patients may develop cardiovascular problems due to the type of therapy they receive.\u00a0\u201cWhen this happens, we help them to recover their heart function so that the patient can continue\u00a0their lifesaving cancer treatment,\u201d Dr. Kanwal said.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThere is nothing in central Pennsylvania like this,\u201d explained Dr. Reninger. \u201cThis is a unique way to identify and then aggressively treat these patients to ensure their long-term health.\u201d\u00a0Even after beating their cancer, Dr. Kanwal noted, patients can have a higher risk of heart disease. \u201cIt\u2019s a good idea for cancer patients to see a cardiologist to keep an eye on their heart health,\u201d he said.\u00a0Talk to your oncologist to see if you should see a cardiologist at UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute.\u00a0"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2020","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"06","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/\/06\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Caring for the Hearts of Cancer Patients","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/06\/heart-cancer-care\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]