Cardio-Oncology

Protecting Your Heart During and After Cancer Treatment

When you’re undergoing cancer treatment, your heart health may not be top of mind. Many types of cancer treatment, however, can damage the heart, increasing the risk of heart disease. Cardio-oncology is a field of medicine that prevents and treats those unique heart health issues.

Cancer treatments are designed to fully eradicate cancerous cells from the body. To do so, these cancer therapies, including chemotherapy and radiation, are quite potent and toxic, even to healthy cells. When these treatments damage the heart, it’s called cardiotoxicity.

Cardio-oncologists specialize in preventing, managing and treating heart health issues in cancer patients and cancer survivors.

Through the cardio-oncology program at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, patients in the Mid-South can access highly specialized services to help them lower cardiovascular risk while still receiving the cancer therapies they need.

Take a Heart Health Risk Assessment to learn if you should see a Methodist Le Bonheur cardiologist. 

Why Choose Our Cardio-Oncology Services

Cancer patients and survivors have unique heart health needs. Because of that, they need the expertise of a cardio-oncologist, specially trained in how oncology care impacts the heart.

Our cardio-oncology program is led by Isaac Rhea, MD, the only board-certified cardio-oncologist in Memphis. Dr. Rhea has advanced training in the effects of cancer therapies on the cardiovascular system, allowing him to diagnose cardiotoxicity, create treatment plans for protecting the heart and manage any existing heart conditions.

Dr. Rhea can also collaborate with other specialists to provide patients with comprehensive care. This collaborative approach ensures that all aspects of a patient's health are considered.

As the only board-certified cardio-oncologist in Memphis, Dr. Isaac Rhea offers unique expertise and guidance to patients at the Methodist Le Bonheur. Dr. Rhea has years of experience, along with fellowship training in cardio-oncology from the highly regarded Moffitt Cancer Center. 

In addition to his fellowship at Moffitt Cancer Center, Dr. Rhea also served a cardiovascular disease fellowship at Case Western Reserve University and an echocardiography research fellowship at Indiana University. The latter provided him training under Harvey Feigenbaum, MD, widely regarded as the “Father of Echocardiography.”

Who Benefits From Cardio-Oncology Services?

While not every patient with cancer experiences a related heart health issue, it can be a common side effect of cancer treatments. Patients undergoing cancer treatment are at a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Due to this unique risk, many patients undergoing cancer treatment can benefit from cardio-oncology services, including:

• Patients who are already being treated for heart disease
• Patients who are experiencing fatigue while undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy
• Patients who have completed cancer treatment and are experiencing symptoms of heart disease
• Patients who have other risk factors for heart disease, such as having high blood pressure or smoking

While any person undergoing cancer treatment is potentially at risk of cardiotoxicity, the risk is highest among those who have breast, lung, blood or lymphatic system cancers. Certain cancer treatments are also associated with a higher risk, including:

• Breast cancer medications
• Chest radiation
• Immunotherapy
• Leukemia, lymphoma, sarcoma and multiple myeloma therapies
• Targeted therapy

In addition to those who are undergoing or who have undergone cancer treatment, cardio-oncology services are also used to diagnose and treat cardiac tumors.

Cardio-Oncology Services We Offer

Through the cardio-oncology program, we meet oncology patients where they are, offering care before and throughout cancer treatment. Our services include:

• Cardiovascular risk assessment before cancer treatment begins
• Long-term cardiovascular care for cancer survivors
• Management of existing heart disease during cancer treatment
• Monitoring of heart health during cancer treatment

Our cardio-oncology program utilizes a range of advanced cardiac imaging  tools to form a diagnosis and create a treatment plan. These tools include cardiac MRI, cardiac CT scans, electrocardiography, echocardiograms and nuclear cardiology. This technology allows us to provide our patients with the most accurate and effective care.

Reducing Risks

While the risk of cardiovascular disease is tied to specific cancer treatments, you can take steps to protect your heart as much as possible. By making these lifestyle modifications, you can empower yourself and take control of your health:

• Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated during cancer treatment can be challenging, but water is essential for helping your heart and the rest of the body function optimally. Sip on water throughout the day, and eat water-filled foods such as berries, melon and cucumbers.
• Fuel your body in a healthy way. Fill your plate with antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. Eating these foods can protect your heart while also providing your body with the energy it needs during treatment.
• Just say no to smoking. If you’re still a smoker, now’s a great time to quit. Talk with a medical provider about creating a cessation plan. Smoking remains the single most preventable cause of disease, and quitting will benefit your heart.
• Move your body when you can. Experts recommend getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week. That’s still a great goal while you’re being treated for cancer, but don’t push yourself too hard. Move your body as much as you’re able, when you can.
• Team up with a cardio-oncologist. Cardio-oncology services can help identify whether your heart is at risk and can help you lower that risk. This may include taking medications to protect the heart, using imaging scans to monitor the heart for damage and modifying treatment if needed.

It’s also important to carefully manage any other health conditions you have while being treated for cancer. A cardio-oncologist can monitor and help you manage a wide variety of heart-related risk factors or health issues, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, arrhythmias or heart failure.