Cardiology-Oncology Referral Clinic

The Cardiology-Oncology Referral Clinic is a specialized clinic that provides a comprehensive approach to the management of cancer patients who are at risk of or have experienced cardiac toxicities from their cancer treatments. The clinic also sees patients whose cardiac disease may impact the choice of their cancer treatment. The goal of the clinic is to prevent, diagnose, and treat cardiotoxicity resulting from chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The Clinic is at The Ottawa Hospital General Campus in Module R.

What to expect 

Only your oncologist may refer you to the Cardiology-Oncology Referral Clinic. A cardiologist reviews and triages every referral. A member of our clinic staff will contact you to book a clinic appointment with a cardiologist. Please inform our clinic staff if you are already under the care of a cardiologist so that we may request your medical records.

The cardiologist will review your medical history and current treatment, focusing on your cardiac and cancer history. They will ask you about your symptoms, perform a physical exam, review your cardiac test results, and provide you with a care plan. 

The cardiologist may order tests to be completed prior to your initial visit. These tests may include blood tests, electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Holter testing, a multigated acquisition (MUGA) scan, and stress testing.

Our clinic staff are pleased to offer all listed below.  

• Cardiology consultation and follow-up 
• Personalized testing and treatment to best meet patient needs 
• Ongoing patient education about the disease process  
• Coordination and navigation of other medical clinics and specialists 
• Ongoing support through follow-up visits and telephone monitoring 

Diagnosis

• Blood work
• Cardiac MRI: A test performed to visualize the structure and function of the heart, valves and major arteries and veins.
• Echocardiogram: An imaging technology that uses ultrasound to create images of your heart. It is a diagnostic test used to examine the heart and its blood supply, determine how large the heart is, how well it contracts, and how the valves function.
• ECG: A simple and painless test that measures and records the electrical activity of the heart.
• Holter monitor: A portable device used to make a continuous recording of your heart rate and rhythm as you go about your daily routine. A cardiologist uses the information from the device to detect rhythm abnormalities, determine whether your medications need adjusting, or to match your symptoms with heart activity. 
• Left ventricular function imaging (MUGA): A cardiology imaging test that provides detailed information about blood flow through the heart and how well the heart pumps during rest.
• Nuclear stress testing: A cardiac perfusion scan measures the amount of blood in your heart muscle at rest and during exercise 

Patient resources 

• Coming for a clinic appointment at the Heart Institute 
• Cancer and Heart Failure (The Heart Hub) 
• Heart health and cancer treatment (PDF, Macmillan Cancer Support) 
• Canadian Cardiac Oncology Network

Patient instructions

Clinic staff will contact patients to provide information about required testing.

Referrals

This clinic is by referral only from physicians associated with The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre.