Cardio-Oncology Program

More people are living longer after a cancer diagnosis than at any time in the past thanks, in part, to new therapies and strategies for diagnosis and treatment. Therapies used to treat many cancers, such as radiation and chemotherapy, have the potential to pose a risk to the health of your heart. Fortunately, cardiology and oncology specialists at RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, offer individuals a structured and highly collaborative Cardio-Oncology Program that is laser-focused on identifying and minimizing the risk of heart disease throughout the cancer journey, from diagnosis through survivorship.

The program, one of only a few in the region, is currently offered at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, in collaboration with the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. For patients with pre-existing heart disease, we also take proactive steps to detect, monitor and treat cardiac conditions throughout a patient’s treatment and after therapy as part of your survivorship plan. When a cancer diagnosis occurs, before treatment starts, our oncology and cardiology teams collaborate to obtain a cardiac evaluation, which may include advanced imaging, electrophysiology and laboratory evaluations. We then develop an individualized treatment plan, with cardiology and oncology experts, and continue prevention and screening techniques throughout the cancer therapy and subsequent follow-up.

Requesting an Appointment

Prior to scheduling an appointment with one of our cardio-oncologist specialists, you may need a referral from your primary care physician. In some cases, you may make a self-referral. For a self-referral, please contact us or request an appointment online.

Conditions Treated

Our program is able to treat a variety of heart conditions. These include but are not limited to:

• Coronary artery disease
• Heart arrhythmias
• Heart failure
• Heart valve disease
• High blood pressure
• Pericarditis
• Peripheral artery disease

Procedures Offered

Your cardiologist, in collaboration with our oncology colleagues, will decide on the specific procedure based on several factors, including the type of heart disease you have and how severe it is; your age, medical history and lifestyle; and results of tests performed during your initial evaluation. Consult with your doctor for more details.

Meet the Team

Instrumental to our program’s success is our passionate, experienced, and integrated multidisciplinary team comprised of cardiovascular specialists skilled in all aspects of health care. To learn more about our team members, please visit our Cardio-Oncology Team page.

Access to the Latest Medical and Clinical Research

RWJBarnabas Health Heart, Vascular & Thoracic also prides itself in providing patients with the opportunity to have access to the latest technology and medical advancements via participation in some of the most renowned clinical studies offered. As you are aware, clinical studies help bridge research and patient care by evaluating therapies, drugs and diagnostic tools to drive discoveries into clinical practice. To learn more about our clinical trials, please visit our Clinical Trials page.