Guarding Hearts Amidst Cancer
First centre in Asia accredited as a Global Centre of Excellence in Cardio-Oncology
PULSE Issue 43 | July 2024
Cancer and heart disease might seem like separate health issues, but they are actually closely connected. While cancer treatments are effective at removing tumours and preventing the spread of cancer cells, they can have serious side effects on the heart, including potentially life-threatening risks of heart failure.
Patients undergoing cancer treatment may be more prone to cardiovascular problems, such as heart attacks or heart failure. Affecting more than one in ten patients with cancer, the risk of dying from heart disease may eventually surpass the risk of dying from the original cancer. Recognising this dire need for specialised heart care among cancer patients, the National University Heart Centre, Singapore (NUHCS), steps up to offer comprehensive cardio-oncology support to address and safeguard their heart health as they receive treatment for cancer.
Playing a pivotal role in transforming the emerging multidisciplinary field of cardio-oncology to provide utmost patient care, NUHCS has become the first centre in Asia to be recognised as a Global Centre of Excellence in Cardio-Oncology by the International Cardio-Oncology Society, marking a groundbreaking milestone for Singapore’s healthcare landscape. Every year, approximately 1,000 cancer patients from the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS) are efficiently referred to the NUHCS cardio-oncology team for further assessment and treatment due to possible decrease in cardiac function during the cancer therapy. Through this collaborative effort in coordinating the best care, such patients can then continue to receive therapy for their cancer whilst protecting their heart function while on cancer drugs.
Fortifying Research and International Collaboration
Having made significant strides in research and published multiple research papers on cardio-oncology using Singapore’s national database of cancer and heart attack statistics, the NUHCS cardio-oncology team’s findings reveal that cancer patients have a higher risk of developing heart attacks and strokes, despite having lower cholesterol levels compared to individuals without cancer. This highlights a major risk factor that necessitates greater awareness and timely intervention for this group of patients.
"We’ve seen that existing methods underestimate the risk of heart disease in cancer patients, and new approaches and methods are required for the development of effective treatment strategies and patient care protocols."
- Dr Koo Chieh Yang Christopher, Consultant, Dept. of Cardiology, NUHCS
As NUHCS achieves global accreditation in the field of cardio-oncology, Dr Tan Li Ling, Clinical Lead in Cardio-Oncology Service and Senior Consultant, Dept. of Cardiology, NUHCS, anticipates a surge in international collaboration prospects, thereby further enhancing patient care standards. These collaborative endeavours not only unlock avenues for greater research but also pave the way for tailored and improved care for cancer patients, ensuring they receive optimal treatment while minimising treatment side effects to the heart.
To ensure comprehensive care for patients battling both cancer and heart disease, NUHCS is dedicated to advancing the field of cardio-oncology through multidisciplinary research, education, and clinical care, not just within Singapore, but globally as well.
