Some of the more common symptoms of cancer near the heart include shortness of breath, sweating, chest pain, and dizziness. A malignant heart tumour may prevent the heart from pumping properly, causing fluid to accumulate around it. If not diagnosed promptly, symptoms may include breathlessness and arrhythmia. Sometimes, people may even die suddenly.
The heart is made up of connective tissue and muscle cells. Although cancer in the heart is uncommon, it is more likely to develop in the tissue lining the heart, called epithelial tissue. This tissue is more prone to mutation than connective tissue, and it turns over at a faster rate. Most organs, including the heart, have epithelial tissue that is prone to mutation. Most types of cancer in the heart occur in this tissue, including the breast, pancreas, and colon.
Surgery is a great way to delay the progression of cancer near the heart. It can buy patients time until further treatment is available. But this treatment approach is far from foolproof. Scientists and physicians from across the country are now working together to discover more effective treatments. For primary cardiac sarcomas, an oncologist and surgeon work together to find a treatment that works. These professionals are considered a cancer “dream team” in the field, and their approach to treatment has doubled the survival rate for their patients.
When tumors of the heart are near the heart, radiation and chemotherapy are common treatments. Radiation therapy can shrink tumors that produce fluid. Chemotherapy can also shrink tumors that secrete fluid. Radiation therapy and surgery can also help treat pulmonary airway blockages. When cancer reaches the heart, the patient can suffer from shortness of breath and pneumonia. While the symptoms of cancer near the heart depend on the size and location of the tumor, it can sometimes mimic symptoms of other conditions of the heart.
While benign cardiac tumors do not require treatment, malignant ones must be treated immediately. Most of these tumours are removed surgically, which eliminates them and ruled out the possibility of more serious tumors. Treatment for malignant cardiac tumors typically involves chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. Unfortunately, the outcome is poor in many cases, and a complete cure is not available in all cases. In cases of heart cancer, the outcome is uncertain, so it is important to get the diagnosis early.
The incidence of primary cardiac tumors is between 0.3% and 7% of all heart tumors. The risk of developing metastatic disease to the heart is 30 times greater than for non-malignant tumors. About half of all primary cardiac tumors are benign, with only 5% of cases developing malignant cancer. Secondary heart tumors are also difficult to detect, and they remain silent until years after the initial cancer diagnosis. In most cases, it is too late for early detection.
