Cardiovascular Medicine

In the Cardio-Oncology Clinic at Mayo Clinic, doctors trained in heart disease (cardiologists) help people with cancer who also have heart (cardiac) or blood vessel (vascular) disease or are at risk of it.

Cardiologists in the Cardio-Oncology Clinic work with a multidisciplinary team of doctors trained in cancer conditions (oncologists), blood disorders (hematologists) and other areas to provide comprehensive, coordinated care. With this patient-centered approach, evaluation may be completed and a treatment plan developed within days.

Your cancer doctor may refer you to the Cardio-Oncology Clinic. The goal of the team is to ensure people can receive needed cancer therapy while reducing their risk of heart disease. Your Cardio-Oncology Clinic doctor may evaluate and treat your heart condition before, during or after cancer therapy.

Services

Services offered by the Cardio-Oncology Clinic include:

• Offering advice and guidance to people with a high risk of heart disease or existing heart disease before cancer therapy and evaluating how to prevent, monitor and treat heart conditions.
• Discussing cancer treatment options with oncologists for people at high risk of heart disease or existing heart disease.
• Providing treatment for heart conditions, including heart medicine if needed.
• 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.
• Monitoring and treating heart complications that may develop during cancer therapy as a result of taking certain chemotherapy medicines or receiving radiation therapy to the chest area.
• Screening for heart complications after cancer therapy, especially in people who have taken certain chemotherapy medicines or have had radiation therapy to the chest area.
• Treating heart conditions or complications that may develop after cancer therapy due to specific chemotherapy medicines or radiation therapy to the chest area.
• Providing lifestyle coaching for people after cancer therapy, such as eating a heart-healthy diet and being active.

Innovative research

Researchers in cardiovascular diseases, oncology and other areas study cancer therapy and its effect on the heart and blood vessels. Doctors study the use of imaging, blood and other tests before, during and after cancer therapy to monitor the heart condition and evaluate the risk of heart and vascular disease. The team at Mayo Clinic is involved in cutting-edge clinical trials to prevent heart and vascular disease and to improve the treatment of people with cancer.

Appointments

You may be referred to the Cardio-Oncology Clinic by your oncologist.

Nationally and internationally recognized expertise

Mayo Clinic cardio-oncology has been recognized as a Gold Center of Excellence in Cardio-Oncology by the International Cardio-Oncology Society.

Mayo Clinic is top-ranked in more specialties than any other hospital and has been recognized as an Honor Roll member according to the U.S. News & World Report's 2023-2024 "Best Hospitals" rankings.

Mayo Clinic campuses are nationally recognized for expertise in cardiology and cardiovascular surgery:

• Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Ariz., and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., are ranked among the Best Hospitals for heart and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report.
• Mayo Clinic Children's Center in Rochester is ranked the No. 1 hospital in Minnesota, and the five-state region of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2023–2024 "Best Children's Hospitals" rankings.