What Patients Say About Cancer Treatment at New Hope
What Is a Cardiac Tumor?
Battling a progressive disease begins with being armed with essential information.
A cardiac tumor is a rare abnormal growth in the heart or heart valves. A tumor can either be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign). The majority of cardiac tumors are benign. However, even noncancerous tumors can cause problems because of their location and size. Sometimes, small tumors flow into the bloodstream and reach distant blood vessels, which can disrupt blood flow to vital organs (embolism).
Heart cancer is extremely rare. According to the Mayo Clinic, on average, only one case of heart cancer is diagnosed per annum.
Heart Tumors We Treat at New Hope Unlimited
Cardiac tumors that originate in the heart and remain there are called primary tumors. An abnormal growth that begins in another part of the body and moves to the heart (metastasize) are secondary tumors.
The primary types of cardiac tumors are:
Myxoma
About 75 percent of myxomas develop in the left atrium of the heart, which divides the two upper chambers of the heart.
Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma is a rare form of asbestos-induced cancer. Tumors initially form in the lining of the heart (pericardium).
Primary Cardiac Lymphoma
This rare malignancy is usually a non-Hodgkin type and involves only the heart and pericardium with no or minimal extracardiac involvement.
Cardiac Sarcomas
Sarcoma of the heart is often diagnosed as angiosarcoma. It occurs in the right atrium and obstructs the inflow or outflow of blood.
In most cases, secondary tumors start in the breasts, lungs, colon, stomach, kidneys, and liver. They can also be tumors associated with leukemia, lymphoma, or melanoma.
Symptoms of Cardiac Tumors
A tumor in the heart can manifest itself in many different symptoms:
- Chest pain or tightness
- Difficulty breathing when lying down or when asleep
- Lightheadedness, dizziness, and fainting
- Recurrent palpitations or a rapid heart rate
- Similar signs of heart disease
More general symptoms are similar to signs of endocarditis — the inner lining of your heart chambers and heart valves. Symptoms may include:
- A weakened immune system, resulting in persistent fevers or coughs
- Fingers that change color when pressure is applied
- Curvature of the nail with enlargement of the finger’s soft tissue
- Joint pain and swelling of the legs, ankles, or abdomen
- Unintended weight loss
Always consult your doctor for a diagnosis.
Causes of Heart Tumors
Studies about the exact causes of primary heart tumors are ongoing. However, medical researchers have identified risk factors for abnormal growth in the heart:
- A family history of cardiac tumors
- Certain health conditions, including:
- NAME Syndrome
- LAMB Syndrome
- Carney Syndrome
- Tobacco smoking and chewing
- Extreme exposure to radiation, and UV rays, and carcinogens
Note that not everyone without risk factors is immune to malignant and benign cardiac tumors. And people who have risk factors will not always develop the disease.
Heart Tumor Detection and Diagnosis
In the process of diagnosing a cardiac tumor, a doctor may order one or more of the following tests:
- Blood tests
- Chest x-ray
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
- Computed tomography (CT) scan
- Echocardiogram
- Electrocardiogram
- Cardiac catheterization
- Coronary angiography
Early and accurate diagnosis, accompanied by proper treatment, can improve a heart cancer prognosis.
Why Choose Us for Heart Tumor Alternative Treatments?
Some mainstream cancer treatments, such as certain types of chemotherapy drugs and radiation therapy, can damage the heart and cause other health problems. At New Hope, our goal is to strengthen the heart and restore the body’s immune system with a potent combination of conventional, alternative, and holistic treatments. Click here to learn more about our expertise and why cancer patients trust us with their quality of life.
Our Approach
Advanced Treatments for Heart Tumors
Top-Rated Physicians
Personal Care
Patient Satisfaction
Our Patient-Centric Medical Facilities
At New Hope Unlimited, we pride ourselves in providing superior comfort, cleanliness, and cancer care at our 8,000 square foot medical treatment center in San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico. We worked with renowned architects and contractors to create the ideal space for recovery, which includes state-of-the-art lounge areas and spacious private in-rooms that assure the comfort of our patients and their loved ones.
To make our patients feel right at home, each private ward is equipped with high-definition U.S. television, quality bedding, and high-speed internet connection. And with proper nutrition playing a vital role in cancer recovery, New Hope Unlimited also fulfills the dietary needs of each patient using fresh, organic produce to prepare breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and dinners.
Comfort and cleanliness are also strictly implemented in our medical treatment rooms, which are equipped with the latest medical supplies and technology to provide the highest standard of care and treatment. Our medical center also has an in-house Hyperbaric Chamber, a well-established therapy for decompression sickness, exclusively available for our patients’ use.
Further, New Hope Unlimited has maintained its exceptional partnership with Hospital Migoo, a medical group composed of certified physicians and specialists committed to our patients’ care and well-being.
Stories of New Hope
Life-changing tales of our cancer patients and survivors.
FAQs
1. Why is heart cancer so rare?
Because the cells in the heart do not divide, heart carcinoma is a rare condition. In fact, the acchances of getting heart cancer through metastasis are higher than cancer originating in the heart.
2. What specific treatments does New Hope offer?
From complete body detoxification to vitamin C supplementation, learn about our innovative combination of conventional, alternative, and holistic treatments for cardiac tumors.
