Page 10 - LifestylesinPalmBeachGardens - April '22

Page 10, Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens
Cardio-Oncology Monitors A Cancer Patient’s

Cardiovascular Health Before, During And After Treatment

Thanks to newer and cardiologist Diego Sadler, M.D., head of the cardio- the cancer treatment on those risks.
better forms of treatment, oncology program at Cleveland Clinic Florida’s Weston “Before a patient starts treatment, we work together
the number of people Hospital. The program recently earned the designation of to establish the best pathway for the patient to get the
surviving cancer has Gold Center of Excellence from the International Cardio- optimal cancer treatment while also protecting the heart,”
improved over the years. Oncology Society. he says.
There are currently 17 Are All Cancer Patients At Risk For Cardiotoxicity? Active monitoring of patients during treatment allows
million cancer survivors in In general, patients with existing heart disease at the cardio-oncology specialists to find and treat heart and
the United States, and that time they start cancer treatment and those with risk factors vascular changes early and adjust the cancer treatment, if
number should increase to for heart disease are at highest risk for cardiotoxicity. necessary, in order to create the best possible long-term
about 20 million in the next Some chemotherapy drugs, some immunotherapy drugs outcomes.
five years or so. and some radiation treatments can negatively affect the Because heart damage can occur within the first year
Many of these cancer heart and vascular system. Cardiotoxicity can develop after therapy or later, Cleveland Clinic Florida’s cardio-
survivors, however, may during cancer treatment or it can occur years after cancer oncology program offers ongoing, long-term follow-up
face another threat to their Diego Sadler, M.D. treatment has ended. care after cancer treatment ends.
health – cardiovascular Cancer patients are identified as being at risk for Care When And Where You Need It
disease caused or accelerated by the medications cardiotoxic complications from cancer treatment if they The multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses and
and procedures used to treat their cancer. A growing previously had or currently have heart disease or have healthcare professionals in Cleveland Clinic Florida’s
understanding over the last decade of the negative elevated risk factors for it, such as being obese, being Cardio-Oncology Program is dedicated to caring for
effects of cancer treatment on the heart, known as cardio- a smoker or having a family history of heart disease. patients in every stage of cancer treatment who are at
toxicity, has resulted in the emergence of a new medical Prior to treatment, cancer patients are given a thorough risk for, develop or have established heart disease.
subspecialty called cardio-oncology. cardiovascular physical examination and heart function Specialists at our Weston Hospital and West Palm
This collaboration of cardiology and oncology tests. Beach locations are available to see patients or
specialists is designed to monitor a cancer patient’s How Are Patients Cared For Within The Cardio- collaborate with a patient’s local physician. Telemedicine
cardiovascular health before, during and after cancer Oncology Program? consultations are also available. Call (877) 463-2010 to
treatment. For patients who are at risk for cardiotoxicity, Dr. schedule an appointment or visit ClevelandClinicFlorida.
“We navigate together so that the patient can complete Sadler says he and his team assess the extent of the cardiac org/Heart to learn more.
cancer treatment while we also protect the heart,” says risks from treatment, the cancer risk, and the impact of
Northern Notes

Living With Sandhill Cranes have been known to cause
damage to property as a
By Katie Roundtree, territorial defense behavior
Director of Finance and upon seeing their reflection
Administration, Northern in cars or window screens.
Palm Beach County Pesticides in yards and
Improvement District urban areas can also be of
Sandhill cranes are concern as they forage for
long-legged, long-necked food in the ground.
gray, heron-like birds with Look around and enjoy
a patch of red skin on their these beautiful birds as
head. They are distinctive they interact within our
looking birds standing Florida environment. Many the good of the cranes and Florida’s delicate ecosystem.
almost 4-feet-tall and can of them can be found in the For more information, please visit the Florida Fish and
be seen near preserves and wetlands, in parking lots and preserves and marshes in Wildlife Conservation Commission website at www.
walking across roads oblivious to danger. They travel in our area. Give them their myfwc.com.
small groups or pairs sometimes with young in tow. space if you come across NPDES tip: Safely use and dispose of pesticides. If
Two subspecies of sandhill crane occur in Florida. The them and be mindful of all of the pesticide cannot be properly used, check with
Florida sandhill crane (G. c. pratensis), numbering 4,000 them crossing or walking your solid waste management authority to find out when
to 5,000, is a nonmigratory year-round breeding resident. in our roadways. Finally, and where to properly dispose of this type of hazardous
They are joined every winter by 25,000 migratory greater please do not feed them for waste.
sandhill cranes (G. c. tabida), the larger of the two
subspecies. The greater sandhill crane winters in Florida
but nests in the Great Lakes region.
Sandhill cranes mate for life and attract mates using
an elaborate dance. These cranes nest during late winter
and early spring on mats of vegetation found in shallow
water such as preserves or marshes. Sandhill chicks can
leave the nest as early as eight hours after hatching and
can swim if necessary. Juveniles stay with their parent
from 9 to 10 months after hatching.
They have been around for a very long time. The first
known sandhill crane fossil was found in the Macasphalt
Shell Pit in Florida. It was estimated to be about 2.5
million years old. They are not endangered but due to
loss of habitat, their populations can be of concern in
certain areas. They are attracted to open areas in urban
settings such as golf courses, parks in subdivisions and
undeveloped land in commercial areas.
Sandhill cranes are omnivores, which means that they
eat plants as well as small animals like snails, frogs,
worms and grubs. They provide natural biological control
for their grazing areas as they eat these common pests of
turf. Sandhill cranes have an abundance of natural foods
and do not need handouts from humans.
People inadvertently put them in harm’s way when
feeding them, thinking that they are being kind. It is
never a good idea to feed wildlife. In fact, in 2002, the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
(FWC) made it illegal to feed sandhill cranes (Florida
Fish and Wildlife Code 68A-4.00(3). Why was this done?
Cranes can become aggressive when fed by people.
When they are used to a free meal, they will continue
to return and demand it when it is not offered. Cranes
returning to a yard where they have been fed are prone to
injury by cars as they cross the street to get to the yard.
They are also more vulnerable to predation by dogs or
cats, especially the young cranes. Occasionally, birds