What is Heart Cancer? Know Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

The incidence of cancer in India has been steadily rising. Projections indicate an exponential increase of two million cases by the year 2040. While most are aware of certain common forms of cancer, there are several types that are still rare but quite detrimental. Heart cancer or cardiac sarcoma is a rare form of cancer and is difficult to cure. On-time diagnosis and treatment of  heart tumor are vital; otherwise, there always remains a risk of unexplained heart failure. 

The life expectancy of the patient after the diagnosis of heart cancer is generally around 6 months if no surgical treatment is given. Even after chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical treatment, there remains a chance of its reversal. However, modern medical science has been exploring ways to cure heart cancer without leaving a chance for its recurrence. 

Heart cancer symptoms often get misdiagnosed with cardiovascular disease, potentially leading to incorrect treatment. This article aims to help you avoid such risks by providing comprehensive information on heart cancer, covering its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options.

Let's begin!

What is Heart Cancer?

Similar to other forms of cancer, primary heart cancer is the result of the unchecked genetic mutation in the heart cells that causes cells to grow and multiply. However, this is less commonly seen among heart cancer patients. The most common form of heart cancer is secondary heart cancer. This occurs when the cancerous cells of the other organs move to the heart and cause cancer. For example, the cancerous cells of breast cancer grow and move to the heart and develop cardiac tumors there. This type of malignant heart cancer is also known as metastatic cancer.  Surgical treatment is the first-line treatment that is given to the patient after detecting heart cancer stages. However, the heart cancer survival rate is not very high even with heart cancer surgery because its symptoms relapse after some time.

Causes of Heart Cancer

Some common causes of heart cancer include:

• Sedentary lifestyle
• Poor diet
• Obesity or overweight
• Diabetes
• Tobacco consumption
• Alcohol consumption

However, angiosarcoma found in blood and lymph vessels is a rare type of soft sarcoma tumour that causes primary heart cancer in patients.  Other than this, various types of cardiac sarcomas develop in pulmonary arteries and aorta.

Secondary heart cancer spreads to the heart from another cancerous organ, including the breast, lungs, skin, and kidneys. It finds its way from the cancerous thymus gland that lies in the chest or through the blood vessels called leukaemia and the lymphatic system.

Symptoms of Heart Cancer

Let's look at some of the common heart cancer symptoms:

• Unexplained heart failure
• Blood clots
• Arrhythmias ( or damage to the heartbeats)
• Disturbed blood circulation through the heart to the other body organs
• Inadequate blood supply to heart muscle
• Fluid build-up in the lungs
• Chest pain
• Bleeding in cough
• Unexplained fatigue
• Debility 
• Dizziness
• Confused state of mind or memory loss
• Weight loss/ malnourished body 
• Shortness of breath

How is Heart Cancer Diagnosed?

To detect which type of heart cancer has grappled the patient out of different types of heart cancer, the diagnosis is done through various screening tests including:

• CT scan
• MRI
• Chest X-ray
• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Coronary angiography
• Cardiac catheterisation
• Echocardiogram
• Coronary computed tomography angiogram

Management and Treatment of Heart Cancer

It is very complicated to cure heart cancer because treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy that are given to the patient cause permanent heart damage. Though the symptoms of permanent heart damage do not appear in the initial days, they come to the surface after some time. Read on to understand vital heart cancer treatment procedures to prevent the risk of stroke, heart failure, or heart attack. 

• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is paired with or without radiation therapy to kill heart cancer cells and shrink the size of the tumour with the help of strong medications.
• Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy can also be paired with or without another heart cancer treatment to inhibit cancerous cell growth with the help of its radiation beams.
• Surgery: Heart surgery is very complicated and needs to be done under the supervision of an expert heart surgeon. This is done after the diagnosis of a heart tumour size and location to remove it completely. However, after surgery, the heart cancer survival rate increases. 

How Can I Prevent Heart Cancer?

Check out the following preventive measures to lower the risk of heart cancer:

• Stay away from carcinogen agents, including tobacco and alcohol. Ask your doctor to seek help if you wish to quit tobacco, smoking, or alcohol addiction.
• Limit processed red meats and incorporate plenty of fruits, beans, and vegetables into your diet
• Be physically active and avoid a sedentary lifestyle. Do moderate exercises regularly.
• Avoid excessive sun exposure. If you must go out, cover your skin or apply sunscreen before coming in contact with the sunlight.
• Regular check-ups may be helpful in an early diagnosis.

Importance of Cancer-Specific Health Insurance

Following cardiovascular disease and chronic respiratory disorders, cancer has become increasingly prevalent, ranking as the third-leading cause of premature death. Due to the staggering medical expenses in India, patients affected by cancer are often diagnosed at advanced stages. This often results in a survival rate of only 30% for those diagnosed with malignant cancer diseases.

This is largely because most patients can't afford long-term treatment in multi-speciality cancer care hospitals. A cancer-specific insurance plan is a great financial corpus that will assist you in funding your cancer treatment. Let's look at some reasons that will help you understand why a cancer-specific insurance plan over and above regular health insurance is vital: 

• In case you have had a family history of cancer, you are also likely to be at risk. Investing  in a cancer-specific insurance plan can help serve the waiting period, and get the treatment when you need it
• Your regular health insurance plan may fall short for covering high-cost treatments like radiotherapy, hospitalisation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or surgery. Hence, buying a cancer-specific insurance policy is essential. Apart from providing coverage for cancer stages, the premiums will allow you to enjoy tax benefits as per Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Let’s Wrap it Up

On account of the expensive pre and post-hospitalisation expenses, surgical interventions, and other treatment costs, many cancer-affected patients remain deprived of treatment at the right time. By opting for cancer insurance, you can avoid compromising on the treatment because of financial constraints. The right plan will help you fund the treatment and cover any related financial loss. 

Our Cancer Insurance Mediclaim policy can be a good option, which covers all stages of cancer  The policy comes with multiple sum insured options up to INR 1 crore, in-patient and daycare coverage, chemotherapy and radiotherapy up to SI, alternative treatment cover, ambulance cover, annual health check-up and many other features. Due to the easy and quick claim settlement, Care cancer insurance has become a preferred pick among others. Connect with our experts for policy details and related terms and conditions. 

>> Also Read: Types and Symptoms of Breast Cancer

Disclaimers: The above information is for reference purposes only. Kindly consult your general physician for verified medical advice. The health insurance benefits are subject to policy terms and conditions. Refer to your policy documents for more information.