Patients with cancer near the heart may also experience problems with their hearts. An electrocardiogram (EKG) is a test that records electrical activity of the heart. It may also detect damage to the heart muscle. Changes to the EKG may be indicative of cardiac sarcoma, which may lead to other heart conditions. The extent of heart muscle damage will be determined by other tests. The following are the procedures to be performed if cancer is found near the heart.
Noncancerous myxoma accounts for nearly half of all heart tumors and affects women more often than men. Ten percent of myxomas are passed down in families. Surgery is required to remove these tumors. Fibroma usually affects infants and young children. It is a type of inflammation of the heart muscle, and causes irregular heartbeats and sudden death. Treatment of fibromas depends on how advanced the cancer is.
Imaging tests can be used to detect tumors in the heart. These tests can help physicians determine the size, shape, and location of the tumor. If the physician suspects a heart tumor, a biopsy can safely remove a tiny piece of the tumor to determine whether it is cancerous. Once the doctor knows whether it’s cancerous, the next step will be to treat it accordingly. This test can be performed only if the tumor has spread to other organs.
Treatment for primary heart cancer is difficult, because the tumor grows rapidly and invades important parts of the heart. Surgery is often not possible until the cancer has spread. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are used to slow tumor growth. Palliative care is used to help a patient cope with the symptoms, but it is often ineffective. Some doctors prescribe a course of palliative care. Sometimes, patients may opt for surgery if this is the best option.
While surgery buys patients time, it’s not a permanent solution. For many patients, the only way to cure this cancer is through a cure that can occur at the cellular level. Ravi and Reardon believe this to be true and have set up a multidisciplinary cardiac tumor group that includes scientists and local doctors. They meet monthly at MD Anderson and videoconference with medical school staff across the country. By combining their expertise, they hope to produce more effective treatments more quickly.
Symptoms of MCTs depend on where they are located. MRI and coronary angiography may help make the diagnosis. Unfortunately, most secondary heart tumors remain undiagnosed until a tumor has spread to the heart. The poor early diagnosis of these tumors makes it extremely difficult to detect them before the cancer has spread to other organs. Therefore, early detection is essential. Many patients who have cancer near the heart may develop it without realizing they have a heart condition.
Some medications used for cancer near the heart may increase the risk of damaging the heart. One treatment is an alternative to surgery. A drug called dexarazoxane has been developed to help prevent heart problems from anthracyclines. In addition, the use of deep inspiration breaths to take radiation treatments may also decrease unnecessary exposure to the heart. The best option for treating cancer near the heart is to consult with a medical specialist before any procedure.
