Doctor Focuses On Heart Problems Affecting Cancer Patients
By Kathy Walsh
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - Battling cancer can be brutal for your heart. Some of the powerful cancer-fighting drugs can cause long-term cardiac problems. But at the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, there is a specially-trained doctor who doesn't miss a beat.
Dr. Lavanya Kondapalli is the only cardio-oncologist in the state of Colorado. Seeing her made all the difference for mother of three, Ellen March.
March has had a long year.
"What you're feeling is scared," she told CBS4 Health Specialist Kathy Walsh.
Her fears started last fall when her twins wouldn't nurse from her left breast. A biopsy showed an aggressive tumor. It was Stage 3 breast cancer.
"I've never taken so many medications in my life," said March.
She has endured 18 weeks of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and had her ovaries removed. She has had five and a half weeks of radiation therapy and other treatments. One drug, Herceptin, was attacking March's heart.
"I had a breakdown because I was nearing the end of my treatment and I only had a few Herceptin infusions left and I thought I wasn't going to be able to continue treatment," March explained.
But it turns out, her heart was in the right place.
"This looks very normal," Kondapalli said, describing one of March's echocardiograms.
Kondapalli, a fellowship-trained cardio-oncologist at UCH, cared for March. While March's medical oncologist, Dr. Elena Shagisultanova, treated her cancer, Kondapalli monitored March's heart with ultrasounds and medicines.
"So we started her on these medicines with the hope that it would help her heart rebuild. Thankfully, in her case it did," said Kondapalli.
And March was able to continue Herceptin.
"Cancer treatment in the end is going to save their life," added Kondapalli.
March is now cancer-free, but Kondapalli will follow her heart for the long term.
Kathy Walsh is CBS4's Weekend Anchor and Health Specialist. She has been with CBS4 for more than 30 years. She is always open to story ideas. Follow Kathy on Twitter @WalshCBS4.
