Cardiologists and oncologists from Allegheny Health Network (AHN) came together with clinicians, patients, and community members at Allegheny General Hospital to host the 15th annual AHN Women’s Heart Luncheon. This event focused on raising awareness about cardio-oncology and honoring local patients’ survival stories.
The luncheon announced a research grant from the Glimmer of Hope Foundation, which will support a study on cardiovascular issues in breast cancer survivors. Indu Poornima, MD, and Valentyna Ivanova, MD, leaders of AHN’s Cardio-Oncology program, and Diana Napper, President and Founder of the Glimmer of Hope Foundation, spoke at the luncheon.
Napper stated, “Cardiovascular complications, specifically cardiotoxicity, have emerged as the second most common cause of morbidity and mortality among breast cancer survivors, especially among women who are diagnosed earlier in life.” She emphasized the critical need for resources in cardio-oncology and expressed hope for continuing collaboration with Drs. Poornima and Ivanova.
Thanks to the grant, AHN’s Cardio-Oncology Center will conduct a retrospective study on cardiovascular problems in breast cancer survivors aged 20 to 64 years. Dr. Poornima highlighted the necessity of understanding cardiotoxicity, stating, “Among women aged younger than 65 years old who have undergone chemotherapy treatments, up to 16 percent of them will develop heart disease within 10 years, compared to breast cancer patients who did not undergo chemo.”
Local patients Kate Crawford and Patricia Downing shared their experiences. Crawford was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer and is now in remission and discussed heart complications from cancer therapies. Downing, diagnosed with cardiovascular disease and later breast cancer, shared her journey to becoming cancer-free under the care of the AHN Cancer Institute and Cardio-Oncology Center.
Dr. Ivanova expressed gratitude to the Glimmer of Hope Foundation and the patients, stating, “It’s my hope that our work in this field will lead to improved care for complex cardiovascular issues connected to breast cancer.”
Earlier this year, AGH was recognized as a Gold-Level Center of Excellence by the International Cardio-Oncology Society, highlighting its achievements in the field.
