Exams and Tests

To help minimize heart issues during cancer treatment, your physician will conduct a thorough history and physical exam to assess your heart risk factors or evaluate any existing cardiovascular disease you may have.

Talk about the risks and benefits of the treatment with your doctor. It's also good to go over the plan for future treatment and follow-up visits.

Tests to evaluate your risk may include blood tests such as:

• Fasting cholesterol (lipid panel)
• Fasting blood sugar
• Kidney function and blood electrolytes (potassium, sodium, calcium)
• Heart biomarkers to look for stress or strain on the heart (for example brain natriuretic peptide [BNP] or Troponin).

Studies to Examine Heart Rhythm

• Electrocardiogram, ECG, a test to evaluate electrical activity of the heart
• Heart monitor (such Holter or Event Monitor) can be worn from 1-30 days to look for abnormal heart rhythms.

Studies to Examine Heart Function

• Echocardiography, an ultrasound examination of the heart to assess size, thickness of the muscle, pumping function and relaxation of the heart, and valve function
• Cardiac MRI, a test to look at the health of your heart muscle tissues, valves and evaluate heart pumping function
• Multigated acquisition (MUGA) scan (involves your receiving a radioactive solution given through a vein using an intravenous (IV) line and then having an X-ray taken)

Studies to Examine Heart Arteries

• A cardiac catheterization is a procedure to look for heart artery blockages. During a cardiac catheterization, a thin tube or catheter is guided into an artery, usually in the wrist or leg, and up to the heart. Contrast dye is used to directly visualize the heart arteries and any possible blockage.
• Heart stress test is either an exercise or in some cases a chemical test to look for signs that might suggest blocked coronary arteries
• Cardiac CT scan is a test that allows visualization of heart blood vessels see blood vessel calcium or fatty plaque buildup.