Deep inspiration manuever

Margaret22

Hi! I’m a brand new member and this is my second post...today! I found the last information exceedingly helpful so I’m asking for more. I hope to help in the future, as well. I am scheduled for radiation in future after recovery from lumpectomy. The center I get care from has yet to adopt the deep inspiration technique available with radiation therapy. I can go down to Boston to receive this treatment yet, it means a lot of life alterations. I am a mom of an 8 yo, a wife and I do indeed work a shift or two per week. I want to know if it’s worth the effort? I can do it but is it really that much more protective to the heart? Are there studies proving this technique is the future gold standard? Any info appreciated. Tha

Meg101

Hi Margaret,

Are you asking about the new Image Guided Radiation Therapy? If so, I'm curious about it too and would like more information from anyone who knows anything about it. I will be starting rads in about 3 weeks. Also, is there anyone who has information about the newer Proton radiation therapy? Are these newer forms of radiation easier on the skin, and do they decrease the fatigue that can be a SE of radiotherapy?

Margaret22

I believe so. It's guided w imaging and it's done with a maneuver to take a deep breath to basically move the heart out of the way when receiving radiation. I am not clear about it so I will let others speak to it.

Pamela23

Margaret,

I was placed "superman style" on the table to avoid radiation hitting my heart and lungs. The last week was a booster dose in which I was placed on my back but the lasers were at angles, nit directly in the chest. Maybe that's an option once you voice your concern. You are literally radiated for 30-60 seconds. My hospital is 5 min away and somedays I'd be there and back within 30 min. Other days where they took longer to adjust me or had to X-ray me, it was unto an hour with parking and getting dressed. My point is, if you are driving far, it'll be exhausting for such short treatment. But by all means, do what feels RIGHT and healthiest for you. It's only 5-6 weeks.

Denise-G

I believe you are talking about Deep Inspiration Breath Hold Radiation. This was not available to me in 2012 when I went through radiation for left breast cancer. However, it was available to my sister who went through radiation in 2015 also for left breast cancer. It is a procedure where you breathe into this gizmo then hold your breath to raise your chest higher and the lungs and heart are deeper. A simple theory and it works!

My sister made the decision to drive 120 miles round trip every day to the University of Michigan for this breath hold radiation. Had it been available when I went through Rads, I would have done it as well. I had major lung and heart issues because of both chemo and radiation.

This was one of the videos my sister watched to help her make the decision. She had absolutely no issues with her lungs or heart.

LittleLori

Hi Margaret22. I am getting rads on my left breast, and was told it does help to protect your heart. They tape a sensor to my stomach so they can see on the monitor that I took and held a deep enough breath to keep my heart safe. If my lungs aren't filled enough, the machine won't emit the radiation. If I let too much air out during the treatment, the radiation stops and I have to take and hold another breath. Both of the bigger, competing hospitals in my area do this for all paitients receiving rads to the left breast. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center NYC also does this, I think it really does make a diffence.

It does give me peace of mind. Ther is so much about this that I can't control, but at least I know I am giving extra protection to my heart. Whatever you decide, I wish you well through your treatments

Margaret22

thank you for your response. I am currently receiving my radiation at the Dana farber in Boston so that I can benefit from the technology. There’s not a lot of research as of yet but they do believe it can make a difference for people like me with left sided breast cancer and at a younger-not very-age of 42. I moved temporarily down here and return home on the weekends. I believe I am doing the best that I can to minimize the risks. I am fortunate b/c I can do it. My hospital where I livewill have it available for future pts. Hoping they get on it sooner rather than later.

macb04

I did the breath hold at scca in Seattle, and it didn't work very well, dearly wish it did. I started having heart issues about a year after rads. I never had any issues before that, not even after CMF chemo. It is mostly arrhythmias that come on occasionally and not having enough cardiac reserve when I exercise. I have exercised my entire life and this only started after they fried me with rads.

Margaret22

I’m truly sorry that you have these side effects even with the deep inspiration maneuver. It’s a fear of mine- I must admit. I hope you have a good cardiologist and it is well managed. Thanks for your honest response.

macb04

Thanks Margaret. It is important to ask the rads people for their personal statistics related to their patients. I think the rads doctor was not good at her job, did several other things wrong as well.