Our heart, the seat of love and sadness, is soft and vulnerable. It is overwhelmed by both grief and joy. It races like a galloping horse in a rousing football match, when exam result is to be out or we propose.
However, physically, heart is very strong. In most cases, it gives you signals for a long time before finally going down. When it comes to the red/pink triangle, heart attack, cardiovascular arrest, irregular heart rhythms are some common terms we are familiar with. But how many of us know about heart cancer? Only a few! So cancer can attack heart? Literally, cancer can attack any organ. However, the big C rarely starts in the heart.
Heart Cancer
When cancer originates in the heart, it is called heart cancer. Heart cancer develops when some cells in the heart go rogue and grow abnormally. The unchecked growth leads to the formation of malignant tumours.
Cells in the heart, unlike the cells in other parts or organs of the human body, don’t divide or grow much in adults. Hence, heart cells are less prone to having error during the replication process, which often causes cancer in other parts or organs of the body.
Behaviour of heart cells may lead to fewer cancers. However, the same behavioural pattern of the heart cells makes it difficult for the damaged cells to undergo a self-repairing process and replacement with young, healthy cells. It explains why heart damage is usually permanent.
Bone, muscle and cartilage create a wall of insulation for heart and thus, it is usually immune to cancer. The oncologists at the best cancer hospital in West Bengal say skin and lungs are exposed to cancer-causing agents (also called carcinogens) such as ultraviolet ray, tobacco smoke etc. However, the heart is placed in an insulated chamber and hence, not exposed to the carcinogens in the outside environment.
Tumours in heart are usually benign. Most cancerous tumours, which are found in the heart, are likely to be metastatic. According to a research paper published in the National Library of Medicine, secondary or metastatic tumours to the heart are 30-50 times more common than primary heart tumours.
When secondary malignant tumours are found in the heart, these are not called heart cancers. For example, if breast cancer spreads to the heart, it is still called breast cancer.
What Are the Symptoms of Heart Cancer?
Heart cancer symptoms are similar to those of serious heart diseases like heart attack. These symptoms include:
Ø Fluid in the lungs
Ø Chest pain
Ø Blood-tinged cough
Ø Blood clots
Ø Shortness of breath
Ø Restricted blood flow
Ø Irregular heartbeats (Arrhythmia)
Ø Fatigue
Ø Fainting or dizziness
Ø Cognitive issues like memory loss, confusion
Ø Unintended weight loss
What Are the Risk Factors for Cardiac Cancer?
Both heart attack and heart cancer have the same risk factors including:
Ø Obesity
Ø Diabetes
Ø Lack of activity
Ø Tobacco use
Ø Poor diet
Ø Alcohol abuse
Cardiac Sarcoma
Cardiac sarcoma is a common type of heart cancer. It is very aggressive and lethal. Sarcomas are usually rare cancers that develop in connective tissues like fat, nerve, blood vessels and muscles. Cardiac sarcomas account for a small fraction of all types of sarcomas.
Cardiac sarcomas are usually asymptomatic until they are in advanced stages. Cancer treatment in Kolkata for cardiac sarcomas includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.