Cardio-Oncology Program

Thanks to advances in diagnosis and treatment, today more and more people are surviving cancer. 

But some of the chemotherapy drugs and radiation therapies that help you become cancer-free can also damage your heart. This can lead to new heart problems — especially if you are already at high risk for heart disease — or make existing conditions worse. 

There are many cardiovascular issues linked with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, such as arrhythmias, coronary artery blockages, heart attack, heart failure, high or low blood pressure, and valve disease. Chemotherapy may also cause certain cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., tyrosine-kinase-inhibitor-induced hypertension) to develop.

Because the risk of heart disease from cancer therapies can last a lifetime, proper post-treatment monitoring is essential for cancer survivors.

The cardio-oncology program at Rush is here to help by offering the following:

• Evaluation and medical care to enhance your heart function before cancer-related procedures or surgery
• Treatments to prevent or minimize damage to your heart while you are being treated for cancer (without changing your cancer regimen)
• Assessment of and treatment for heart damage caused by past cancer treatments