LIFE & HEALTH
Cardio-Oncology
MD, about this field and how it can improve outcomes for fighting cancer.
Building a new program for heart care Written by John Ferrari | Photographed by Vincent Rios
T
he body is a system. More than that, it’s a system of systems: respiratory, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and more. These systems interact and work together, so it’s no surprise an illness or treatment of one system can affect other systems. With increasing awareness of the complex interplay between the body’s systems, physicians have adopted a multidisciplinary approach to treatment. At Torrance Memorial Medical Center, physicians, surgeons and other medical specialists work in teams to care for the whole patient. That’s why the hospital is investing in a cardio-oncology program. A relatively new specialty, cardio-oncology provides specialized heart care for patients undergoing cancer treatments. OnCenter spoke with cardio-oncologist Brenton Bauer, 28
ONCENTER — SUMMER 2022
Cardiologist Brenton Bauer, MD, and Echo technician II Zachary Leazer collaborate on patient care.
Briefly, what is a cardio-oncologist? What I like to tell people is we are cardiologists with a special interest in patients fighting cancer. We help prevent heart conditions or treat heart conditions that developed as a result of a patient’s cancer treatments. The ultimate goal is to partner with oncologists to ensure we provide the most optimal treatments for cancer patients. How did this specialty develop? Back in the 1960s cancer treatments were very toxic, and we can track the birth of cardio-oncology to the ’60s and ’70s. The specialty has only gotten broad recognition in the last five to seven years though. Over the past 20 years or so, there’s been an explosion in oncology research and treatment modalities. It’s not just chemotherapy anymore. There are so many different types of cancer treatments available—and more in development. We’re learning so much about them and their effects.
