Cardio-Oncology Program

Cardio-Oncology Program

The WMCHealth Cardio-Oncology Program, part of the WMCHealth Heart and Vascular Institute provides state-of-the-art heart and vascular care for cancer patients. For appointments, referrals and information, please call 914.493.3671.

Chemotherapy and other drugs are used to fight cancer. The Cardio-Oncology Program specializes in treatments that protect the cardiovascular system from these important cancer therapies. Cardiotoxicity is a condition that occurs when the body’s circulatory system experiences problems caused by cancer treatment. Each patient’s medical condition and history are evaluated by highly skilled cardiologists and oncologists who collaborate to provide timely, dignified care. This ensures the most appropriate, safest treatment now and in the future.

The Cardio-Oncology Program maximizes state-of-the-art therapies, technology, equipment and medical research to provide cutting-edge evaluation and treatment. The entire medical team guides patients through care with dignity, compassion and educational information at every step – making doctors’ visits, hospitalizations and follow-up appointments easier and less stressful. Each team member embraces the need for nuanced attention from initial consultation through treatment and every step of aftercare. This personal touch, which aids healing and recovery, is essential: Cardio-Oncology Program team members care for each patient the way they would care for their own families.

This comprehensive program is based at Westchester Medical Center, flagship of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth) in Valhalla. This means that pre-eminent care is conveniently available close to home. The program is led by Diwakar Jain, MD, FACC, MASNC, FSNMMI, who has performed extensive cardio-oncology research and has published several scientific publications relating to this specialty.

Please CLICK HERE to learn more about Program Director Dr. Diwakar Jain.

Thank you for trusting the Cardio-Oncology Program team and allowing us to be part of your care – and future.

Program Coordinator
Ana Sanchez Diaz
914.493.3671
Ana.Sanchez-Diaz@WMCHealth.org

Appointments, Referrals, Information
914.909.6900
914.493.2828 fax

WMCHealth Heart and Vascular Institute
Ambulatory Care Pavilion at Westchester Medical Center
100 Woods Road
Valhalla, NY 10595

Patient Transfers or Emergencies
Contact the Westchester Medical Center Transfer Center at 914.493.5555. Assistance is available around the clock, seven days a week.

Cardio-oncology is an emerging medical specialty addressing the complex interaction between cancer and the cardiovascular system. This involves monitoring, early detection, prevention and treatment. The development of newer cancer therapies with lower or no risks to the heart and vascular system, and careful planning of cancer therapy in patients who have cardiovascular disease, are important aspects of this specialty.

Cancer is the second-largest cause of mortality in the United States. Early diagnosis and a precise care plan saves and improves lives while extending life expectancy.

An estimated 14.5 million people nationwide live with a history of cancer. This number is projected to rise to 20 million over the next 10 years. Approximately 12,500 cases of cancer are diagnosed annually in children and adolescents in the United States. There are more than 300,000 survivors of childhood cancers. The higher rate of cancer survivors is due in large part to advanced cancer treatments that sometimes have unfortunate side effects. As a result, many cancer survivors live with the long-term adverse effects of cancer therapy.

Childhood cancer survivors face a high risk of having cardiovascular disease later in life. The spectrum of cardiovascular complications of cancer therapy is wide and includes left ventricular dysfunction, congestive heart failure, angina, myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, hypertension and other conditions.

Cancers can affect the cardiovascular system in multiple ways. Tumors arising from the lungs, breast, esophagus and other parts of the body can directly invade or compress the heart and vascular system. A multi-specialty comprehensive approach is therefore required to address these aspects of cardio-oncology.

Please click here for our Brochure (English / Spanish)

Echocardiography
Echocardiography is routinely used to study the structure and function of various chambers of the heart, heart muscle, valves and the space surrounding the heart. Echocardiography is the most commonly used non-invasive imaging test in patients with known or suspected heart disease. This test does not result in any radiation to the patients and can easily be repeated to track the changes in heart function over time.

Abnormal amounts of fluid can collect around the heart in patients with cancers arising from the lung, breast, esophagus and other structures in the chest due to a spread of the tumor. This interferes with the normal functioning of the heart and can sometimes be life-threatening. Echocardiography can readily detect this condition, and this abnormal fluid can be removed in a simple, life-saving surgical procedure. Westchester Medical Center has state-of-the art echocardiography labs to serve adults and children.

Nuclear Cardiovascular Imaging
Cardiac imaging can be performed in conjunction with a treadmill exercise test or chemical stress test to detect coronary artery disease and identify patients who can benefit from more advanced diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. These may include coronary angiography, placing a stent in coronary arteries, and coronary artery bypass surgery. Imaging is highly useful in patients suspected to have coronary artery disease. This test can avoid invasive tests in certain instances.

Nuclear-imaging tests also can be performed to study the function of the heart. A subtle deterioration of cardiac function often can indicate cardiotoxicity, a condition that occurs when the body’s circulatory system experiences problems caused by cancer treatment. Promptly stopping use of medications creating adverse side effects at this stage can prevent serious damage to the heart. Imaging of the heart can detect cardiac amyloidosis, a relatively uncommon but serious condition of the heart in which abnormal proteins accumulate in the heart muscle and interfere with proper heart function. Westchester Medical Center has state-of-the-art nuclear cardiovascular imaging labs to serve inpatients as well as outpatients.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Cardiac MRI)
Magnetic Resonance is an advanced technique for imaging the structure and function of the heart. It provides detailed anatomical information about different chambers, valves and the pericardial space surrounding the heart. Images of the heart can detect a range of issues and abnormalities. Westchester Medical Center has state-of-the-art cardiovascular MR imaging labs to serve inpatients as well as outpatients.

Exercise Stress-Testing
This is a simple test to determine the functional capacity of the heart. Impaired function may be an early indication of heart disease. Exercise stress-testing often is combined with heart imaging with echocardiography, or nuclear imaging of the heart, to secure additional information about the valves, coronary arteries and heart function.

Electrophysiology
Cancer patients may have pre-existing heart arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation. Some cancer treatments also may trigger or worsen these arrhythmias. Furthermore, there sometimes can be a significant interaction between commonly used treatments of these arrhythmias and cancer therapies. Careful planning may be required to address these issues. Westchester Medical Center has a world-class electrophysiology team to provide these services.

Cardiac Catheterization
Patients with significant heart disease symptoms, or where imaging may indicate a problem, may require further evaluation of the heart through a cardiac catheterization procedure. This approach may detect narrowing of the heart’s arteries.

Cardiac catheterization often can be combined with a procedure to open these blocked arteries using balloon angioplasty and a stent. Cardiac catheterization also is helpful in evaluating and treating patients with heart-valve disease. Cardiac catheterization also is used to drain abnormal accumulation of fluid around the heart in patients with metastatic cancers. Westchester Medical Center has a state-of-the-art catheterization laboratory available 24 hours a day for urgent procedures.

Cardiac Surgery
Cancer patients with heart disease may require heart surgery to treat the underlying heart disease. The timing of such surgery requires careful, thoughtful planning and coordination among multiple medical teams.

Cancer patients sometimes require urgent surgery to drain abnormal fluid around the heart. Westchester Medical Center’s cardiac surgical team is highly experienced in providing very high quality surgical care for cancer patients.

Program Coordinator
Ana Sanchez Diaz
914.493.3671
Ana.Sanchez-Diaz@WMCHealth.org

Appointments, Referrals, Information
914.909.6900
914.493.2828 fax

WMCHealth Heart and Vascular Institute
Ambulatory Care Pavilion at Westchester Medical Center
100 Woods Road
Valhalla, NY 10595

Director
Diwakar Jain, MD, FACC, MASNC, FSNMMI

Program Coordinator
Ana Sanchez Diaz
914.493.3671
Ana.Sanchez-Diaz@WMCHealth.org

Physician Assistant
Noemi Mercado, PA

Clinical Collaboration (Oncology)
Michael Fanucchi, MD
Mitchell Cairo, MD

Research Collaboration
Michael Fanucchi, MD
Mitchell Cairo, MD
Nader Abraham, PhD
John T. Fallon, MD

Nuclear Cardiology Lab and PET Imaging
Diwakar Jain, MD
Perry Gerard, MD

Echocardiography Laboratory
Mala Sharma, MD

MRI
Anthon Fuisz, MD

Pathology and Genomic and Cellular Biology
John T. Fallon, MD
Mitchell Cairo, MD

Electrophysiology
Jason Jacobson, MD

Heart Failure Program
Chhaya Aggarwal-Gupta, MD

,