1st Baltic Cardio-Oncology Meeting

Abstract

The interest in cardiooncology is increasing in Poland, because of the rising number of cardiovascular problems associated with anticancer treatment. Cardiac complications are currently the second cause of morbidity and mortality in patients who had undergone anticancer therapy. That’s why oncologists must closely cooperate with cardiologists to ensure an optimal cardiac prevention plan. The rapid development in cardiology and oncology makes it necessary to establish channels of fast-track exchange of knowledge and experience between them. For this specific purpose, on 24 November 2018, a conference entitled the “1st Baltic Cardio-Oncology Meeting” was organized at the Gdynia by the: (1) Cardiology and Heart Electrotherapy Clinic and (2) Oncology and Radiotherapy Clinic and Hematology and Transplantology Clinic of the Medical University of Gdańsk. Nearly 100 cardiologists and oncologists attended the conference, having arrived there mainly from northern Poland, but there were also lots of participants from other regions of Poland. Increasing interest is expressed in the interdisciplinary approach to the treatment of patients with cancer. One of the effects of the growing interest is the newly-founded Cardiooncology Clinic (headed by Prof. Ewa Lewicka) at the University Clinical Center. The conference was opened by the organizers, Professor Ewa Lewicka, MD, PhD, and Elżbieta Senkus-Konefka, MD, PhD, who briefly presented the latest key issues on the border of cardiology and oncology. Both speakers emphasized the fact that progress in oncology causes an accumulation of cardiooncological problems both due to the cardiotoxic impact of new therapies as well as due to the increasing patient survival time, which results in a higher risk of long-term effects of more effective anti-cancer treatments. They both referred to their own experience related to the work of the Gdańsk clinic.