Types of Heart Cancer

Though heart cancer is extremely rare, there is the potential for the development of abnormal cells within the tissue of the heart. And much like any other organ of the body, certain types of cancer are more likely to affect the heart than others. Of all the forms of cancer, sarcomas are by far the most prevalent, especially cancer that has originated within the heart itself. But metastatic forms of lymphomas, and even melanomas, spread into this region of the body.

Sarcomas

• Malignant tumors of the heart tend to be sarcomas, which are forms of cancer that originate in the soft tissue. Because the heart is made up of smooth muscles, a type of soft tissue in the body, the heart is susceptible to sarcomas above all other kinds of cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, 34 percent of all sarcomas develop in or around the internal organs, including the heart. But sarcomas themselves are relatively rare, and even rarer when found within the heart. They often begin as a mass of abnormal cells that grow in size, as with any other type of cancer.

Lymphomas

• It is also possible to develop lymphoma of the heart, although this type of cancer does not originate in the heart itself. Lymphomas are cancerous cells of the immune system (or the white blood cells). When this type of cancer affects the heart, it's considered a metastatic form of cancer, one that has spread from an originating site.

  With lymphomas, the lymph nodes, lymph vessels and even lymph, as well as other parts of the lymphatic system experience an abnormal development of cells, usually B cells (the blood's antibody-secreting cells). This abnormal development may also occur within the T cells (immunity-specific cells). Over time, these cancerous cells replicate and can eventually spread to the heart.

Melanomas

• Another kind of cancer that can affect the heart is melanoma. And much like lymphoma, this type of cancer doesn't actually originate within the heart itself. Instead, it metastasizes from another area of the body into the muscular tissue of the heart. With this form of cancer, development originates within melanocytes, which are cells of the skin and eyes responsible for pigment.

Marantic Endocarditis

• Though not an actual type of cancer, marantic endocarditis can develop within the heart as a result of cancer. This condition is essentially a cardiac lesion that forms along one or more of the valves of the heart, which can inevitably affect the overall function of the organ. Also known as nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis, the presence of a lesion can often cause the heart to murmur and increases the potential of clot formation.

Cardiac Fibrosis

• It is also possible to develop cardiac fibrosis as a result of cancer, which is a stiffening or hardening of the muscles of the heart. And much like marantic endocarditis, this abnormal thickening can eventually cause a dysfunction within one or more of the heart valves as well as a right-sided heart failure, which essentially means that the right side of your heart can no longer effectively pump blood.

Treatment

• Treatment options vary based on a number of factors, including the type of cardiac cancer, stage of the disease and health of the individual, but a number of people go through a procedure known as a surgical excision, in which the tumor is removed. However, this form of treatment usually sees a recurrence of the disease. For some, chemotherapy is then used to reduce the size of the recurrent tumor and stop the metastasis of the cancer. For others, radiation may be necessary, but this form of treatment can bring with it a toxicity of the heart and isn't often used. In later stages of the disease, a heart transplant may be the only answer. The difficulty in the treatment of heart cancer can make the prognosis poor.