MISSION:

The goal of the Cardio-Oncology Program is twofold:

1) Ensuring people can receive the most appropriate cancer therapy while minimizing their risk of heart complications.

2) Treating any cancer patients related heart conditions.

Doctors aim to evaluate and treat heart conditions before, during or after cancer therapy as needed.

VISION:

The Cardio-Oncology Program aims to:

• Integrate cardiac evaluation and cardiology care in the treatment plan of oncology patients before, during and after cardiotoxic chemotherapy regimens

• Promote and advance the cardiac care of cancer patients.

At the National Level, we aim to integrate cardio-oncology care in the guidelines of treatment of oncology patients before, during and after cancer therapy.

Physicians at the Cardio-Oncology Program may evaluate and treat cancer patients before, during or after cancer therapy for:

• High risk of heart disease.
• Existing heart disease.
• Developing heart disease or heart complications after cardiotoxic chemotherapy regimens or radiotherapy to the chest area.

Services offered by Cardio-Oncology Program include:

• Advising and guiding patients with high risk of heart disease or existing heart disease before cancer therapy and assessing how to prevent, monitor and treat heart conditions.

• Discussing and coordinating cancer treatment options with oncologists for patients at high risk of heart disease or existing heart disease.

• Providing treatment for heart conditions, including heart medications if needed.

• Monitoring and treating heart conditions or complications that may develop during or after cancer therapy as a result of taking certain chemotherapy drugs or receiving radiation therapy to the chest area.

• Monitoring people with heart disease or at risk of heart disease before and during cancer therapy with regular imaging tests and blood tests to look for signs of heart complications.

• Screening for heart complications after cancer therapy, especially for patients who have taken certain chemotherapy drugs or have had radiation therapy to the chest area.

• Providing heart health and lifestyle coaching for people after cancer therapy.

• The Cardio-Oncology Program provides comprehensive cardiology services to cancer patients and survivors whose heart health may be affected by cancer and its treatment.

• Recent research is increasingly pointing out the importance of monitoring heart health indicators during treatment: older patients particularly who have undergone cancer treatment are increasingly at risk of long-term cardiac complications, according to reports by the American Heart Association.

• The goal of the clinical Cardio-Oncology program is to help patients navigate the impact of cancer treatment on heart health. This program aims to preserve heart health before treatment begins and monitor and treat any conditions that arise during and after treatment.

• The program equally provides long-term guidance and care on cardiac issues for patients who are long-term cancer survivors. 

• The Cardio-Oncology program’s wide range of collaborative care services with cardiology specialists have been specifically established to help cancer patients and survivors. Our services are intended to comprehensively address patients’ various heart health concerns.

• Cancer treatment may affect heart health: these effects may be temporary, long-lasting or permanent, though not all cancer treatments cause cardiac problems.

• We strive to provide patients with a collaborative treatment plan tailored to the specific concerns and needs of each. 

• The Cardio-Oncology program particularly builds on the expertise of its physicians to monitor the effects of cancer treatment on the heart -aspects of cardiotoxicity: heart failure, high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy or arrhythmia – and provide long-term heart health support throughout the cancer journey unto survivorship. The program’s team of specialized physicians have offered Lebanon and the region pioneering treatments for heart conditions with the latest up to date standards and medical technology.

• The Cardio-Oncology Program ensures the timely and early comprehensive provision of cardiac health counseling, prevention and interventions, enhanced through regular screening and close monitoring of heart health before, during, and after treatment.

A closely coordinated team of highly dedicated cardiologists, oncologists and nurses overseen by Dr. Walid GHarzuddin provide individualized treatment options to monitor, preserve and look after your heart health:

Through this program, our patients with cancer-related heart issues will have access to a wide range of resources and experts throughout the fields of cardiovascular medicine, oncology, cardiac surgery, cardiac imaging, vascular surgery, and other specialties.

• Walid Gharzuddin, MD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Specialty, Department of Internal Medicine Cardiology Division

01 374 444 Ext 5426

dg00@aub.edu.lb    

• A referral to the Cardio-oncology Program will comprise of a comprehensive consultation and evaluation with one of the program’s physicians.

• The evaluation may include medical imaging to better understand a patient’s cardiovascular condition. An individualized treatment plan will then be developed for each patient.

• Treatment varies according to the type of heart condition, the patient’s progress, whether they have any other underlying conditions, and whether they are currently under cancer treatment.

The Cardio-Oncology Program is located on the 6th floor at the the Department of Cardiology in the Mufid Farra Heart and Vascular Center –  Aida and Halim Daniel Academic Center (Daniel ACC).

To contact us, please call: +961-1-350 000 ext: 8989