We know that cancer treatment is saving more lives than ever before, but that lifesaving treatment can also come at a high price such as damage to vital organs. Dr. Rajesh Thirumaran, director of Infusion Services at Mercy Catholic Medical Center says special care is now taken to protect the heart during treatment. Patients with a known history of cardiac issues, high blood pressure or stroke and those taking chemo drugs known to damage the heart are screened and monitored carefully in a cardio-oncology program.
He says the first line of defense in protecting the heart is a common sense approach. Patients are urged to eat sensible diets and get plenty of exercise. He says if medication is needed, there are several which can be prescribed to lower blood pressure, prevent blood clots and protect the heart muscle. He adds that doctors can also switch chemotherapy medications if needed, or eliminate the regimen if it's determined that the chemo would do more harm than good.
Dr. Thirumaran says as more and more people survive cancer, it's essential to make certain that the cure doesn't cause the patient problems down the road. The goal of the program is to kill the cancer cells while protecting the quality of life.