Left breast radiotherapy

I want to find for my wife a place that offer breast radiotherapy face down ware the breast hangs thru a hole as described by TRACEY62. If any one know please email me krassi62@gmail.com! 

I am 3 radiation treatment in for left breast cancer. I am using the snorkel method, nose clip on, snorkel in mouth, hold a button down take a deep breath in and hold, then relax and breath normally, then repeat 5 times.The lovely nurses never rush , just when you are ready.

Is a bit tricky, but the more I do it the easier it is becoming.

Would be difficult for an elderly patient, I think, but so worth it to give some clearance and the best option for no future heart issues.

hugs to all ????

Thanks Ann-Marie

Think we can never have enough knowledge about new techniques.  The snorkelling allowing the lungs to be filled with air before treatment, was on TV recently, but have not heard any more about it since.  Jen

Hi Hillbilly,

I just wanted to jump in and provide you with some more information. I've had a quick chat to our policy team in regards to your questions and your previous post about the use of a snorkle.

For women with a left sided breast cancer, one of the concerns can be the dose of radiation to the heart which sits to the left side of the body. Many radiation centres are now using what Jennie has mentioned above, the technique called Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) to reduce the risk to the heart and any long term cardiac side effects that might otherwise occur.

DIBH requires a woman to hold her breath for a short period- about 20 seconds, several times during each daily treatment. A special camera and equipment monitors your breathing so that the treatment machine only delivers the radiation whilst you are holding your breath.

The team had not heard about the use of a snorkel but perhaps it is something that some women are being offered to help them to hold their breath?

Your radiation oncologist will be able to tell you more about this technique and whether it might be helpful for you.

~ Ann-Marie

Hi there Hillbilly,

I've just finished 21 radiotherapy sessions to left breast. I had mine at hospital in Melbourne where they do Deep Inspiration Breath Hold for radiation on left breast. Basically you just take a big deep breath in and hold it while they shoot the rad beam through. Apparently it's so targeted the breath hold gives clear pathway that means rads miss the heart. Truly amazing, just a breath hold can make all the difference. If you google Deep Inspiration Breath Hold you can check it out. Ask your radiation oncologist about it. I don't know if all hospitals do it like that but I reckon it's worth checking out. Our bodies go through enough as it is, we don't need further complications like rad injuries to the heart.

Good luck with it all,

Jennie

That's good news Jen, hope all goes well, xXx

Thanks for your reply, yes the oncologist said only in the last years has radiotherapy changed to angled targeted treatment, think I will be ok after talking with the nurse and looking at the mapping.  Will continue to ask questions as you suggest and am happy that with Herceptin that I have 3 monthly heart test.  Hope things go ok for you.  Jen

Thank you for your comments have just come home from first radiotherapy and they have shown me the computer mapping and as they now use very angled and targeted radiotherapy and all but a small 5% will be well away from the heart they do not think there will be any problems at all. It has been great to have your feedback, feeling a lot happier.  xx Jen

Hi Hillbilly

I had a lumpectomy and radiation on left breast in 2004. Since then my skin has been permanently itchy where the radiation was ( burns ) and my rib cage pokes out more. Just feels weird, sorry can't explain it well. I had a biopsy of that area last year and all was fine but I still don't trust it. I had left BC again in 2013 and had a mastectomy including muscle removed. I had chemotherapy this time as you can only have radiation once. 

As a result I developed Atrial Fibrilation and I'm now on 4 different medications. The oncologist said it was a combo of both radiation and chemotherapy that caused it. This was only discovered  in April  2014 when I had a ECG as routine before my first reconstruction - which was postponed til the end of the year. Unfortunately I don't have any symptoms , so I didn't know my heart was racing and still don't feel it. Hopefully you'll be ok , just ask lots of questions. Great they are now doing things differently to when I had mine done . Wishing you well xx

Hello Hillbilly,

i had breathing problems after chemo & docs were reluctant to start radiation on left breast. First planning CT was on my back sitting up, when they ran it thru the computer it would have radiated my heart & lungs as well, not good. Now we are doing radiation with me lying face down, breast hangs thru a hole in the table. Works really well & Rad Onc is happy it's getting good coverage without touching heart or lungs. 

Talk to you Rad Onc about how your computer planning looks. We all come in different shapes & sizes, tell them your concerns and ask what is the best approach. They told me that after chemo, radiation is a walk in the park, and it's true. Hope all goes well for you, Tracey ??