Treatments like chemotherapy and radiation can be lifesaving when you have cancer. Unfortunately, these treatments can potentially damage your heart. At the Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Cardiovascular Institute, our heart specialists partner with your oncologist to protect your heart while you undergo cancer treatments.
Certain cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapies, can be toxic to your heart. This treatment side effect is called cardiotoxicity.
Your heart may weaken (heart failure) or beat out of rhythm (a condition known as arrhythmia). You also may experience high blood pressure, or hypertension, a condition that increases your risk of stroke and heart attack. You may continue to be at risk for these problems even after you’re finished with cancer treatments.
Our goal is to prevent and minimize heart damage while you continue the best treatment for cancer. Cardiologists at the Cardio-Oncology Clinic manage patients before, during, or after cancer therapy, including:
At AHN, you benefit from:
Our heart specialists coordinate care with experts from the
