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 What is Heart Cancer ?

    Heart Cancer is an 

extremely rare form of 

cancer that is divided into 

primary tumors of the heart 

and secondary tumors. Heart 

cancers can develop from any 

part of the heart.

 In adults, the most common heart cancer is angiosarcomas, which tends to 

develop in the right upper chamber of the heart (atrium). Angiosarcomas 

originates 

from cells that form the lining of blood vessels.

In children the most common type of heart cancer is Cardiac 

rhabdomyosarcoma, which is also the second most common type of heart 

cancer found in adults.Rhabdomyoscarcoma originates from muscle cells 

that have become cancerous. Although heart cancer has been around for 

many years not a lot of information is known about it. 

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            ?

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    The  causes of Heart Cancer are not 

known but, like any other cancer 

change occurs inside the cell, which 

leads to the alteration of their function 

and uncontrollable growth. These 

types of changes can occur in any cell 

in the heart. 

-Swollen feet and ankles

-Fatigue

-Irregular heart rhythm

-Fever

-Shortness of Breath

-Thickening of fingertips 

-Unexpected weight gain or loss

-Weakness

-Cough

-Chest pain and pressure

Heart cancer diagnosis is diagnosed with several blood tests, CT scan, MRI scans 

and other routine laboratory tests. Although, some of the special tests for 

diagnosing this tumor include myocardial biopsy, Pericardiocentisis, Cardiac 

catheterization, Stress Test.

Treatments for heart cancer include:

-Chemotherapy to attack cancer cells and manage symptoms

-Dietary counseling to help people with cancer maintain their strength and 

nutritional status

-Palliative care to improve the overall quality of life for families and patients with 

serious diseases

-Participation in a clinical trial that is testing promising new therapies and 

treatments for heart cancer

-Physical therapy to help strengthen the body, increase alertness, reduce fatigue, 

and improve functional ability during and after cancer treatment

-Radiation therapy to attack cancer cells and manage symptoms

-Surgery to remove cancer and preserve function of the heart

Explanation of heart cancer diagnosis:-

Heart cancer diagnosis helps us to identify the nature 

and cause of the tumor and helps the doctor to select 

the treatment accordingly. Diagnosing techniques of 

this tumor are generally selected on the basis of blood 

tests, CT scans and MRIs which are performed before 

the diagnosis.

Myocardial Biopsy:-

This test is one of most   common tests conducted for 

diagnosing heart cancer tumor. In this test, a piece of 

heart is removed with the help of a special catheter 

and grasping device at the other end. Later this piece 

is examined under a microscope. This helps to detect

 heart cancer type and location and its spread 

throughout the body.

In this procedure, a special needle is inserted into the 

sac which surrounds the heart and fluid is injected out 

from the tumour. This fluid is later examined by 

conducting several laboratory tests. These tests give a 

brief idea about the nature and characteristics of the 

tumour and it's widespread throughout the body. This 

is highly recommended and well known for its 

accuracy.

Cardiac Catheterization:-

In this procedure, contrast dye is injected in the 

narrow tube. This tube is inserted in your body through 

a blood vessel of leg or arm and it is aimed at heart. 

With the help of this tube, X-ray pictures are developed 

of the tumour and then these pictures are examined. 

These pictures give a clear idea of the location of the 

tumour and the spread of cancer throughout the body.

Stress Test:-

This test is highly recommended for diagnosing this 

tumour. This test is conducted to determine whether 

your heart is still healthy and able to face stress. It 

also proves the whether the blood purification system 

is healthy or not. This test is combined with other tests 

such as Biopsy and Tilt table test to determine the 

location of the tumour.

Electrophysiology test:-

In this test, the heartbeat rate and the electrical 

activity of the pathways of your heart are checked to 

determine the nature, size and location of the tumour. 

It also helps to find out the perfect cause of 

disturbance in the heartbeat rate.

Heart cancer diagnosis helps us to identify the nature 

and cause of the tumour and helps the doctor to select 

the treatment accordingly. Diagnosing techniques of 

this tumour are generally selected on the basis of blood 

tests, CT scans and MRIs which are performed before 

the diagnosis.

Pericardiocentisis:-

In this procedure, a certain needle is inserted into the sac which 

surrounds the heart and fluid is injected out from the tumor. This 

fluid is then examined by conducting laboratory tests. These tests 

give an idea about the nature and characteristics of the tumor and 

it's widespread throughout the body. This is highly recommended 

and well known for its accuracy.

Electrophysiology test:-

In this test, the heartbeat rate and the electrical activity of the 

pathways of your heart are checked to determine the nature, size 

and location of the tumor. It also helps to find out the perfect 

cause of disturbance in the heartbeat rate.

Heart cancer diagnosis helps us to identify the nature and cause 

of the tumor and helps the doctor to select the treatment 

accordingly. Diagnosing techniques of this tumor are generally 

selected on the basis of blood tests, CT scans and MRIs which are 

performed before the diagnosis.

Cardiac Catheterization:-

In this procedure, contrast dye is injected in the narrow 

tube. This tube is inserted in your body through a blood 

vessel of leg or arm and it is aimed at heart. With the 

help of this tube, X-ray pictures are developed of the 

tumor and then these pictures are examined. These 

pictures give a clear idea of the location of the tumour 

and the spread of cancer throughout the body.

Stress Test:-

This test is highly recommended for diagnosing this 

tumor. This test is conducted to determine whether your 

heart is still healthy and able to face stress. It also 

proves the whether the blood purification system is 

healthy or not. This test is combined with other tests 

such as Biopsy and Tilt table test to determine the 

location of the tumor.

Treatments for heart cancer include:

-Chemotherapy to attack cancer cells and manage 

symptoms

-Dietary counseling to help people with cancer maintain 

their strength and nutritional status

-Palliative care to improve the overall quality of life for 

families and patients with serious diseases

-Participation in a clinical trial that is testing promising new 

therapies and treatments for heart cancer

-Physical therapy to help strengthen the body, increase 

alertness, reduce fatigue, and improve functional ability 

during and after cancer treatment

-Radiation therapy to attack cancer cells and manage 

symptoms

-Surgery to remove cancer and preserve function of the 

heart

Cancer Therapy: anthracyclines (adriamycin or 

daunomycin), cyclophosphamide

Long term effects include heart failure, exercise 

intolerance, palpitations, shortness of breath, 

peripheral edema, cardiomyopathy, congestive 

heart failure. Prior radiation therapy seems to 

enhance adriamycin cardiotoxicity.Other diseases 

or effects can include pericarditis myocarditis 

syndrome; left ventricular failure; arrhythmias

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