With the evolution in the treatment of cancer, more and more people are cancer survivors. While these treatments have improved outcomes for cancer patients, some treatments cause damage to the heart. This is especially true for patients who are already at risk for heart disease prior to undergoing cancer treatment.

We designed the Froedtert & MCW Cardio-Oncology Program to meet the needs of these patients and for patients who are found to be at high risk for cardiovascular disease during cancer screening or evaluation.

Our program provides the full range of services, including:

  • Evaluation for and risk-reduction planning for cardiovascular disease before cancer treatment
  • Coordination of a cancer regimen that reduces cardiovascular risk during treatment
  • Monitoring cardiovascular health for changes during and after treatment
  • Advanced treatments for heart issues that may occur during, or years after, cancer treatment

Team Approach

Our Cardio-Oncology Program brings together a multidisciplinary team of specialists from cardiology, cardiac imaging, cardiothoracic surgery, hematology, medical oncology and radiation oncology. These experts work together to minimize the effects of your current or past cancer treatment on your cardiovascular health.

Care plans may involve diagnostic testing, medication management and interventional and surgical procedures for patients, if it is possible to include these elements without changing or interrupting your cancer treatment regimen.

Treatments Designed Around You

No two patients are the same. That’s why our team takes a personalized approach when considering the optimal plan for you, including identifying your risk for heart disease even before you start cancer treatment.

To identify your risk and develop a treatment plan, our team reviews your medical history and may perform diagnostic testing on your heart, including stress tests and imaging. We have access to the latest, non-invasive diagnostic technology including 3D echocardiograms and cardiac MRI, which often eliminates the need for invasive diagnostic procedures. 

If surgical care is needed, you will be in the hands of one of the most experienced cardiac surgery teams in the Midwest. Our cardiac surgery team provides patients from across the region with the latest cardiovascular treatments, including non-invasive treatments for heart valve disease, arrhythmia and heart failure.

Care Before, During and After Cancer Treatment

In addition to working with patients to identify cardiovascular risk before cancer treatment, we partner with patients who are currently receiving cancer treatment or those who had undergone treatment for cancer in the past. Through diagnostic imaging, our team can detect abnormalities in the heart and track any changes during or after treatment. This includes monitoring side effects that can occur from chemotherapy or radiation therapy during or years after treatment.

By tracking changes in your heart’s health during and after treatment, our team can more quickly identify concerns and provide treatment recommendations before problems progress.

Advancing Care Through Research

As part of an academic medical center, we are continuously involved in cutting-edge cardio-oncology research to develop new methods for identifying patients at increased risk of developing cardiac events and researching strategies to decrease cardiac risk during cancer care.

Our cardio-oncology research program is multi-faceted and includes basic science, translational, clinical and population health components, with collaborative innovation that includes artificial intelligence and machine learning. Learn more about cardiovascular research.

Our Cardiovascular Program continues to receive recognition as one of the top programs nationally. We are honored to provide high-quality, effective care for even the most high-risk patients.

  • In its 2024 Specialty Excellence Awards, Healthgrades recognized Froedtert Hospital as one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery, one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care and one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention, as well as other specialty achievements in various areas.

    For the second year in a row, Froedtert Hospital was identified as one of the nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals™ according to an independent quality analysis based on a balanced scorecard provided by PINC AI™, and reported by Fortune. The hospitals recognized in the top 50 operated at lower cost and had better outcomes, recording significantly higher inpatient survival rates, fewer patients with complications, lower readmission rates and up to nearly $10,000 less in total costs per patient case. According to the study’s analysis, if all hospitals operated at the level of this year’s top performers, there could be 7,600 fewer deaths due to heart disease, 6,700 fewer bypass and angioplasty patients who suffer complications, and more than $1 billion in costs saved for the 2024 study year. Froedtert Hospital was ranked in the category of top teaching hospitals with a cardiovascular residency program. In this cohort of hospitals, Froedtert Hospital was ranked No. 4 in the country. No other hospital in Wisconsin was recognized with this national distinction.

    The Society for Vascular Surgery's Vascular Quality Initiative (SVS VQI) has awarded Froedtert Hospital three out of three stars for its active participation in the Registry Participation Program. The mission of the SVS VQI is to improve patient safety and the quality of vascular care delivery by providing web-based collection, aggregation and analysis of clinical data submitted in registry format for all patients undergoing specific vascular treatments. The VQI operates 14 vascular registries.

    The American Heart Association recognized Froedtert Hospital with its Get With the Guidelines® Heart Failure Gold Plus Award. In addition, the hospital was recognized on the AHA’s Target: Heart Failure(SM) Honor Roll and received the AHA’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll™ award. 

    The American Heart Association also recognized Froedtert Hospital with its Get With the Guidelines® — Coronary Artery Disease Mission: Lifeline STEMI Receiving Silver Plus and Mission: Lifeline NSTEMI Silver awards. These awards demonstrate our commitment to improving care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines and streamlining processes to ensure timely and proper care for heart attacks.

    The American Heart Association recognized Froedtert Hospital with its Get With the Guidelines® AFib Gold Award.

    ​The Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) and Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Froedtert Hospital have each received a silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. This award recognizes unit caregivers who successfully improve patient outcomes and align practices with AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards. Receiving this national three-year award with gold, silver and bronze designations, marks a significant milestone on the path to exceptional patient care and achieving a healthy work environment.