Newswise — Toronto, ON (January 20, 2016) – Potentially deadly tumours or abnormal growths found in the heart or heart valves can either originate in the heart or spread to the heart from cancer found elsewhere. While considered rare, cardiac tumours remain prevalent and can be difficult to treat depending on their size and location. They also require precise medical expertise ― not widely available ― to properly treat patients. With this specific knowledge and skill among its internationally-renown staff, the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre along with the University of Toronto, are jointly hosting the first Toronto Cardiac Tumour Conference, which will take place on January 21, 2016.
“The impetus for leading this type of conference is really to share key learnings and transfer knowledge about this often fatal cardiac condition, especially as it is more commonly identified,” says Dr. Barry Rubin, Medical Director, Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network. “As a globally-recognized institution for the treatment of both simple and complex cardiovascular diseases, many of the innovative techniques now used to treat tumours of the heart were developed by our staff, using multi-disciplinary medical and surgical teams. Both are integral to improving the quality of life and more importantly, the survival of patients with a cardiac tumour,” he says.
The Toronto Cardiac Tumour Conference will convene medical experts from Canada, the United States and Europe to discuss the diagnosis and management of benign and malignant cardiac tumours.. “With really rare conditions, it’s important to send patients to health care professionals with a lot of experience,” says Dr. Robert James (RJ) Cusimano, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto and cardiac surgeon, Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, who is leading the Conference. "We've been fortunate to have people send us patients with cardiac tumours because we are such a highly-specialized care centre. I've realized that treatment of these tumours could be done better," he says, citing the main reason for holding the conference.
The average lifespan of a patient with a malignant tumour in the heart is one to 1.5 years. International multi-disciplinary collaboration is imperative to improve survival. The most common treatment option for patients with a tumour in their heart is resection, or surgical removal of the affected piece of the heart.
Video interview with Dr. Robert James Cusimano, cardiac surgeon, Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network (UHN)
ABOUT THE PETER MUNK CARDIAC CENTREThe Peter Munk Cardiac Centre is the premier cardiac centre in Canada. Since it opened in 1997, the Centre has saved and improved the lives of cardiac and vascular patients from around the world. Each year, approximately 55,000 patients receive innovative and compassionate care from multidisciplinary teams in the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, and the Centre trains more cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and vascular surgeons than any other hospital in Canada. The Centre is based at the Toronto General Hospital and the Toronto Western Hospital - members of University Health Network. www.petermunkcardiaccentre.ca
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