DURBAN - Every cancer patient should undergo a cardiovascular assessment before starting treatment, says Dr Trishun Singh, head of the Cardio-Oncology Centre at Netcare Umhlanga Hospital.
Singh says this is crucial because cancer and its treatment can significantly affect the cardiovascular system.
The Netcare Umhlanga Cardio-Oncology Centre, which opened in 2019, is the only specialised facility of its kind in Africa.
It has once again been recognised by the International Cardio-Oncology Society (IC-OS) as the leading centre on the continent.
Singh, the founding president of the Cardio-Oncology Society of Southern Africa (COSOSA), is currently the only practising cardio-oncologist in South Africa. He says he hopes the field will expand to more hospitals across the country.
“Unfortunately, cardio-oncology is not included in fellowship training programmes,” Singh said.
He qualified as a medical doctor nearly five decades ago and as a cardiologist about 40 years ago. It was only after attending a conference in 2019 that he became exposed to the emerging field of cardio-oncology.
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Singh explains that cancer patients often develop cardiovascular complications after chemotherapy or radiation therapy, even after being declared cancer-free. Others require specialised care because they already have underlying heart conditions when diagnosed with cancer.
“These patients may end up needing long-term cardiac care, which could have been better managed if risks were identified earlier,” he said, adding that treatment costs can escalate during recovery.
“Therapy for cancer is very good and has resulted in a 95 percent survival rate because of better drugs,” Singh said.
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However, he warns that the cardiovascular effects of cancer treatment can be profound, making cardio-oncology an increasingly important discipline.
Singh has called for the development of multidisciplinary healthcare units in South Africa and for medical students to be encouraged to pursue multi-specialist fields.
He believes this approach could improve long-term outcomes for patients.