Cardio-Oncology Rehabilitation (CORE)
While cancer treatments can help you get better, certain ones can also increase your risk of heart complications. That’s why your multispecialty cancer care team may include specialists like cardiologists or pulmonologists to monitor and manage specific symptoms and risks if needed. During cardiac rehab, your entire care team will work together to coordinate comprehensive and customized care.
Protecting Your Heart and Improving Your Health
Our 12-week CORE Program was designed to help protect your heart health while enhancing your strength, overall health and quality of life. You can count in our team of heart, cancer and rehab experts to evaluate your current level of function and design a rehab plan to shield your heart from added stress as you achieve new goals. We’ll help you safely increase your physical activity level and reduce side effects, such as cancer-related fatigue.
What is Cardiac Toxicity?
Put simply, cardiotoxicity (heart toxicity) is temporary or lasting damage to your heart, blood vessels and lungs caused by certain cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation. But it is reversible. With specialized care, you can prevent or reverse temporary symptoms, improve your heart health and overall wellness, manage fatigue and lower your risk of long-term heart damage.
Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent permanent damage. To help manage your risk, your oncologist may recommend regular heart monitoring during and after your treatment.
Ask your oncologist and care team about these and other signs or symptoms of heart toxicity. Your cancer and heart specialists can help you identify heart issues early when cardiac toxicity treatment is most effective.
Cardiac toxicity signs and symptoms include:
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Fluid retention in the legs
- Heart rhythm changes (arrhythmia)
- Shortness of breath
Heart-Related Complications of Cancer Treatment
If cancer treatments are affecting your heart, you may experience:
- Extreme fatigue
- High blood pressure
- Low blood pressure
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Heart valve disease
- Irregular heartbeat
- Thickening of the heart's lining (pericarditis)
Other Risk Factors for Cardiac Toxicity
The following conditions or lifestyle risk factors can increase your risk of heart toxicity:
- Diabetes
- Existing heart problems
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Obesity
Getting Start with CORE
When you begin the CORE program, our experts will work with your cancer care team and evaluate your condition and treatment goals. You’ll have a treadmill test and may work on other equipment as your specialists assess your current level of function.
The following chart gives you an overview of what to expect during each phase of treatment. Your care team will customize heart-safe rehab goals that suite your current condition and personal progress.
For best results, you’ll want to complete all 12 weeks of the program. You can improve your level of success by exercising as directed at home in addition to regularly attending sessions at one of our conveniently located rehab facilities.
| Phase | Milestones & Goals | CORE Rehab | At-Home Progress | Intensity |
| Phase 1 | Milestone: You're in cancer treatment Goal: Reduce severe treatment side effects |
Frequency: 1-2 times/week Duration: 12 weeks |
Frequency: 2 times/week | Low |
| Phase 2 | Milestone: You've completed Phase 1 or have had surgery or hormonal treatment. Goal: Reduce physical limitations |
Frequency: 1-2 time/week Duration: 12 weeks |
Frequency: 3 times/week | Low-moderate |
| Phase 3 | Milestone: You've completed Phase 2 Goal: Improve physical abilities |
Frequency: 1-2 times/week Duration: 12 weeks |
Frequency: 3 times/week | Moderate |
| Phase 4 | Milestone: You've completed Phase 3 Goal: Develop long-term habits for physical activity |
None | Frequency: 3 times/week Duration: Indefinitely |
Moderate to high |
Contact Us
Cardio-oncology rehab requires a doctor’s referral. Check with your insurer or ask your care team about financial options or consultants. Most health insurance providers cover the cost of the CORE program. If you need help with a referral or for more information, call us at 816.691.1795.