I Update Conference on Cardio-Oncology held at the La Luz Hospital
Last Thursday, the first Cardio-Oncology Update Day organized by the Cardiology and Medical Oncology services of the hospital center was held at the La Luz Hospital.
Prestigious experts participated and were presented by doctors Roberto Martín Reyes, head of the Cardiology service at Hospital La Luz, Luis Calvo, director of the center's Cardiovascular Prevention Area, and Christian Garriga Braun, Managing Director of Hospital La Luz.
Dr. José Luis López-Sendón, head of the Cardiology Department at La Paz University Hospital, explained the problem, diagnosis , and treatment of cardiotoxicity. Cardiovascular disease is the second leading cause of long-term mortality in cancer survivors. According to this expert, some cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and, in many cases, radiotherapy, pose a potential cardiotoxicity risk. However, he also noted that chemotherapy and radiotherapy have been shown to offer benefits by improving the prognosis for many cancer patients.
For the cardiologist, cardiotoxicity is the number of cardiovascular events that potentially occur during or after cancer treatment. He referred to the incidence of heart failure with some of the numerous drugs that can promote the development of hypertension or diabetes, increase cholesterol levels, or trigger arrhythmias during chemotherapy treatments. He cited data from CardioTox , a cardio-oncology working group, which analyzes cardiotoxicity associated with cancer treatments.
Dr. Abraham López Ricardo, head of the Cardiovascular Prevention, Cardiac Rehabilitation and Cardio-Oncology Unit at La Luz Hospital, addressed the role of cardiac rehabilitation in the prevention of cardiotoxicity. “Cancer and cardiovascular disorders are 2 of the chronic non-communicable diseases that cause the most morbidity and mortality; they share common risk factors, including aging and an unhealthy lifestyle.” According to the doctor, the common prevention strategy is focused mainly on lifestyle changes and regular exercise. “In patients with cancer, moderate and controlled physical activity reduces the 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease and the incidence of cancer by 48%,” he clarified.
Another specialist who participated in the event was Dr. Diego Alcaraz Nunes, associate physician in the Medical Oncology service at Hospital La Luz, who discussed the benefits of the hospital's Cardio-Oncology Unit. He has stated that cancer cases increase due to the growth and aging of the population, which also leads to an increase in cardiovascular disease. “Patients cured of cancer should not die from a cardiovascular complication,” he stressed. “For this, the importance of the multidisciplinary work of the Cardio-Oncology Units.”
The head of the Medical Oncology service at the Quirónsalud Madrid University Hospital, Dr. Lucía González Cortijo, highlighted in her presentation the heart-healthy lifestyle habits of cancer patients. From the benefits of aerobic exercise, strength and flexibility to the Mediterranean diet that reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by 30%. The oncologist, a firm defender of quality of life in cancer patients, presented her La Vida en Rosa Foundation, which was born with the purpose of improving the lives of women with cancer and that of their families.
Finally, and to close the session, Dr. Esther Holgado Martín, head of the Medical Oncology service at La Luz Hospital, spoke, who has raised the management of thrombotic risk in cancer patients. In this sense, she has recognized that venous thromboembolism constitutes a serious complication in cancer patients and especially in those receiving chemotherapy. “Greater risk of recurrence and bleeding complications when undergoing treatment. Therefore, the importance and need for Cardio-Oncology units that help reduce cardiovascular episodes."
The day was aimed at health personnel, doctors, nurses and assistants.