patient and doctor make heart with hands

Cardio-Oncology

Cardiology

specialized care

The new field of cardio-oncology has grown in response to the increasing need for clinicians with expertise in both cancer and cardiology.
 

comprehensive cardiovascular care

As cancer treatments have improved, more people than ever before are surviving cancer. However, many of these life saving treatments have potential side effects including damage to the heart. The NEHVI Cardio-Oncology Program at Catholic Medical Center is a collaboration between the New England Heart & Vascular Institute (NEHVI) and the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center, two top-ranked centers at the forefront of patient care and research in New Hampshire. Our program aims to combine our specialists’ expertise in cardiology and oncology to treat and protect your heart before, during and after your cancer treatment.
 

Conditions TREATED BY CARDIO-ONCOLOGISTS

Cancer treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy can cause acute and long-term damage to the heart and the circulatory system. These can lead to many cardiac conditions including
.
Arrhythmia
A cardiac arrhythmia is an abnormal heartbeat which can cause the heart to beat too slowly, too quickly or irregularly. This can feel like your heart is fluttering or racing in your chest.
Coronary Artery Disease/Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

The cause of coronary artery disease is the process of plaque formation through cholesterol build up within the walls of the arteries that supply the heart muscle with oxygen (coronary arteries). A similar process can happen in other arteries in the body (peripheral arteries) and lead to decrease blood flow and oxygen delivery of other organs in the body.

Heart Failure
Heart failure is a chronic and progressive condition where your heart can't keep up with its heavy workload and as a result your organs do not receive enough blood flow and oxygen.
Hypertension

Hypertension is another way of saying high blood pressure. Your blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against your artery walls when the heart contracts and rests. The systolic pressure (the top number) describes the pressure when your heart beats and the muscle contracts, and the diastolic pressure (bottom number) describes the pressure in your arteries between heartbeats, as the heart rests and fills with blood.

Pericarditis

Pericarditis is a condition in which the pericardium which is a sac-like covering around the heart becomes inflamed.

Diagnosis & Treatment

Who we treat

  • Cancer patients prior to or during certain types of chemotherapy or radiation treatment.
  • Cancer patients at risk for heart disease or who have heart disease.
  • Cancer survivors whose hearts may have been damaged by cancer therapy

Our treatment approach

  • We use advanced imaging technology to provide earlier detection of potential cardiac toxic side effects from cancer treatment.
  • We provide specialist directed treatment to prevent or reduce cardiac damage from cancer treatment.
  • We guide cardiac follow-up care during, and if needed, after cancer treatment.

Additional Testing

We may recommend additional testing if needed and will help coordinate any scheduling as well as collaborate with your referring physician to ensure that he or she received any test results and recommendations for treatment of your conditions.

 

Your first Visit

What to Expect

Our cardio-oncologists, who provide specialized cardiac care to cancer patients and cancer survivors, will conduct a physical examination and a thorough review of your medical history.  If you are a new patient, we ask that you bring the following: 

  • A list of the medications, vitamins and herbal supplements that you take along with information on dosages.
  • Any medical records, CDs of cardiac images such as transthoracic echocardiograms, cardiac MRIs or cardiac CTA, consultation notes, and notes on previous treatments and their effectiveness. 

This comprehensive information will be used at the time of your first visit to get a complete picture of you and your overall condition in order to develop an appropriate treatment plan.

CMC related services

Heart Care

Meet our

Cardio-Oncology Team

Our cardio-oncology team provides specialized cardiac care to cancer patients and cancer survivors.

Find a Provider

Our Locations

New England Heart & Vascular Institute
Catholic Medical Center100 McGregor StreetLevel B Manchester NH 03102
603.669.0413

Affiliate Locations

New England Heart & Vascular Institute
St. Joseph Hospital 166 Kinsley StreetNashua NH 03060
800.437.9666