What do you know about heart cancer?

Heart cancer is a very rare disease, occurs when there is a malignant tumor appearing anywhere in the heart. Heart cancer, whether benign or malignant, is quite dangerous, because it can cause many serious complications.

What is heart cancer? Heart cancer is a type of cancer that originates in the soft tissues of the body (sarcoma), due to uncontrolled proliferation of cells, forming a malignant tumor in the heart. Most heart tumors are not cancerous. However, some heart tumors have the ability to proliferate abnormally and develop into heart cancer.
The incidence of heart cancer is extremely rare. An autopsy study was carried out on more than 12,000 cadavers and found only seven with heart tumors.
Most cancers found in the heart are metastases from other parts of the body. Cancer that starts in areas close to the heart, such as lung and breast cancer, has progressed to the heart or the lining around the heart (the pericardium). Cancer can start elsewhere in the body and spread to the heart through the bloodstream. Cancers with an increased risk of affecting the heart include lung cancer, breast cancer, esophageal cancer, kidney cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, and melanoma.

Heart malignancies grow rapidly, invade other important parts of the heart, disrupt the structure and function of the whole organ and cause symptoms. Benign cardiac tumors can also seriously affect patient prognosis, if the location of the tumor interferes with cardiac function. Symptoms of the disease may reflect the location, size and structure of the tumor:
Obstruction of blood flow to the heart: As heart cancer progresses, the tumor can obstruct blood flow through the heart. Tumors in the upper chambers of the heart have the risk of reducing blood flow to the lower chambers (ventricles), making the patient feel short of breath, fatigued, especially with exertion. Decreased blood flow out of the heart: Patients have chest pain, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, or even fainting. Cardiac dysfunction: The patient feels shortness of breath, swelling in the legs, angina, fatigue. Irregular heartbeat: Fast, fast, unsteady pulse. Some primary heart tumors have the potential to cause signs such as: Fever and chills, exhaustion, night sweats, weight loss, joint pain, severe chest pain when breathing, shortness of breath, especially it's time to lie down.

Causes and risk factors for heart cancer are still unclear, but there are many studies that suggest that heart cancer is largely caused by:
Genetic factors: Most Children with heart tumors all have ductal sclerosis, a syndrome that results from mutations in DNA. Compromised immune system: The risk of heart cancer is often higher in people with poor immune function. Causes of unhealthy lifestyle: Cancer in general often stems from an unhealthy lifestyle, such as staying up late, waking up late, not doing sports, or eating fast food and junk food. processed under high temperature such as bacon, barbecue, spoilage problem in food.

To diagnose heart cancer, your doctor may order the following tests:
Echocardiogram: Look at the heart structure, check for abnormalities in the heart's functioning, including its ability to contract, the size and shape of the heart, the movement that pumps blood from the heart walls and valves, check for tumors, and inflammation around the heart valves. CT scan: Images from a CT scan help differentiate benign and malignant tumors. MRI scan: Provides detailed images of the tumor, helping doctors determine the specific status of heart cancer, such as the stage of the disease, the level of progress. Cardiac Cell Biopsy: A highly accurate medical procedure that helps diagnose most cancers.

Treatment for patients with heart cancer is indicated depending on whether the tumor is benign or malignant, primary or secondary, and the stage of the disease. Most cases require surgery.
With benign tumor: The patient can be cured if the tumor is completely removed. In cases where the tumor is very large or there are many tumors, removing part of the proliferative cells in the heart may improve or help some symptoms go away. Some patients may be followed up with annual echocardiography instead of surgery. With melanoma: Because of its rapid proliferation and invasion to other organs, it is more difficult to treat. Accordingly, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are commonly used methods to slow the progression of malignant cells and reduce disease symptoms.

Heart cancer is a rare disease, but the symptoms are often unclear, making it difficult to detect the disease. Therefore, people with risk factors should have regular checkups and screen for heart problems to ensure that their heart health remains stable.
In order to help bring the best quality of life and minimize the risk of disease, now Vinmec International General Hospital has implemented a general health checkup package for all subjects and ages. The health check helps the doctor assess the condition of each customer, thereby advising on the best diet, sleep, and activity for each person. Regular health check-ups, which are extremely important, especially for people at high risk and with a family history of the disease.

Reference source: mayoclinic.org