Have you been diagnosed and treated for cancer? Did you receive radiation or chemotherapy as treatment for your cancer? These treatments have well known side effects. Lesser known side effects are those that can involve your heart and blood vessels. Weakness of the heart muscle, high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes can present either early in the course of treatment or as late term consequence. As a section member of the American College of Cardiology’s Cardio-Oncology division, Dr. Espinoza has been involved in this field since its inception. As an interventional cardiologist, he has dealt with first hand patients who have suffered from these conditions. Specifically, radiation induced vascular injury causing inflammation and narrowing of arteries of the heart and carotid circulation. With advanced ECHO ultrasound imaging performed at AHVI, patients can undergo assessment for subtle changes to the heart muscle itself that may occur as a direct toxic complication of radiation or chemotherapy. We encourage patients who fall into this medical category to schedule an appointment for a thorough and state of the art assessment if they have any questions or concerns.
