Dr Moslehi on the Importance of Multidisciplinary Collaboration in Cancer Care

“My job is [to ensure that patients’] breast cancer doctors give them the best therapies, not to take away the treatments. Multidisciplinary care is especially important for patients with cancer, because it allows the patients to receive life-saving therapies.”

Javid Moslehi, MD, chief of Cardio-Oncology and Immunology at the University of California San Francisco Health, outlined a comprehensive strategy for integrative cardio-oncology in the context of breast cancer management, emphasizing that the fundamental role of a cardiologist in this setting is to facilitate, rather than restrict, optimal cancer management.

Moslehi asserted that his primary responsibility as a cardiologist is to collaborate with breast cancer specialists to ensure patients receive tailored cancer therapies without needing to withdraw life-saving treatments due to cardiovascular concerns. This collaborative framework is supported by significant advancements in cardiology, which allow for the management of complex cardiac issues through targeted preventive measures, pharmacological interventions, and specialized procedures, he explained.

Moslehi highlighted that multidisciplinary care inclusive of cardiologist perspectives is paramount for patients with breast cancer because it ensures they remain eligible for essential therapies, even when cardiac complications arise. Furthermore, the discussion shifted toward the long-term management of the approximately 4 million breast cancer survivors currently residing in the US. A key insight Moslehi added is the emerging appreciation of shared risk factors between cardiovascular disease and breast cancer. He noted that classic cardiac risks, specifically obesity and hyperlipidemia, are also being increasingly recognized as significant factors in breast cancer progression.

By aggressively managing lipid levels, cardiologists can achieve a dual clinical objective: reduce the incidence of cardiac effects, and potentially decrease the risk of breast cancer recurrence. Ultimately, Moslehi suggested that high-quality breast cancer survivorship depends on this integrated approach, where addressing metabolic and cardiac health becomes a vital component of the broader oncological strategy.