BREATH HOLD METHOD IN RADIOTHERAPY OF BREAST CANCER

How to effectively conduct radiotherapy for breast cancer and lymphoma while protecting the heart against the risk of cardiac complications? At the Amethyst Radiotherapy Center, this type of treatments are performed using breath-hold irradiation - the breath hold method.

The method is that when we take a deep breath, the lungs expand and the heart lowers along with the diaphragm. Thanks to this, it "leaves" the irradiation area for a short time. When planning individual treatment for patients with left-sided breast cancer or lymphoma, the staff of the Amethyst Radiotherapy Center practices breath holding with patients. This period of time is carefully measured and then taken into account when planning the radiation dose. The accelerator's operation is synchronized with the established respiratory phases - irradiation is switched on during a deep inhalation under close online control of the center's employees.

The breath hold method is becoming more and more popular in the West, but it is still rarely used in Poland. Meanwhile, it plays an important role from the point of view of the patient's future life, protection against complications, and ensuring longer overall survival.