Hello. Left breast cancer

Hi Beechnut so sorry you had such a hard time with the breath hold.  I had cancer in my left breast and had to do the breath hold for radiotherapy.  I didn't find it difficult but I can see how some people might struggle.  I imagine it's made all the worse for worrying about it.

I think it's possible to do shorter bursts but more of them at each session.  I can't remember exactly but on each of my 5 visits the first 2 or 3 sessions were for the full length of time and then there was often a final much shorter one right at the end to finish off the required amount they had decided I needed.  

So it might be that someone could have 5 shorter sessions per visit instead of the 2-3 full length ones.  It's worth asking if anyone is worried about the length of the breath hold.

Hope you are recovering well.

Hi Beechnut and a warm welcome to the forum. I’m a fellow left breast cancer bod! I wasn’t a fan of the breath hold but managed it in the end. I had 3 weeks of it as it was nearly 3 years ago so pre Covid and pre 5 day regime, and I did find it got easier as I got more practised. And it seems a long time ago now, I think the unpleasant memories do fade as time moves on. 
How are you finding the hormone zappers? I’m on Anastrozole, don’t love popping the pills but trying to do everything to keep the beast at bay. There’s a thread for hormone treatment in the ‘Diagnosis and treatment’ section which is useful for sharing experiences. 
Glad you’ve found us here, even if it’s a club no one would choose to join. 
Love and a big virtual hug, HFxx

PS if you like walking (my passion) I am mainly to be found on the Walking back to happiness thread in the ‘Chat’ section

And just to add, I buy my own’Vitabiotics’ calcium and Vit D tablets as I like the brand and know they’re vegetarian. Don’t know if they’re easier to tolerate than those on prescription. I showed them to my GP and she checked with the pharmacy that they were ok. Don’t know if that’s helpful… xxx

Hi and welcome. Like you I had breast cancer in the left breast. I spent a lot of times holding my breathe for 30 seconds. I went for my CT scan and again was asked to hold my breathe which I did. I had a small tremor so I was unable to do this when I undertook radiotherapy. So I was able to breathe normally. Like you I'm also on the calcium with vit D. Yes I feel sick on somedays but ginger has helped with this, as of yet I've not been physically sick. I'm on Anastrozole for the next 5 years and I take these at night so if there are any side effects from them hopefully I will sleep through them e.g hot flushes etc

I was supposed to have 15 sessions but this was reduced to 5. I questioned this and was informed that I would still be getting the same dosage. I have now finished the radiotherapy and hoping to get back to living a life again to the full.

Talk to your oncologist about how you feel. They can do the therapy while you breathe normally. 

Hi GodWilling. Thank you for your reply. I found it really hard because they were long breath holds. In fact on the second day I just couldn't do it. The journey was about an hour so went that day for nothing. I did manage it after that but to me it was difficult.

It was 6 months ago now and only just started to feel a bit like myself.

I was also given too much calcium which made me sick and gave me very sensitive teeth which I'd never had in my life.

Thanks again

Beechnut

Thank you HappyFeet. I really appreciate a chat like this. I don't feel so alone now because unless you are going through it or been through it it's difficult to understand.

Thanks again

Beechnut

I'm glad to hear you are beginning to feel like yourself again.  It took me about 6 months as well before I got over the effects of the radiotherapy and was able to walk any distance without feeling really tired.

Listen to your body and try and rest when you need to.

Hope the effects of too much calcium have also worn off, something you could have done without onto of everything else.  I wasn't prescribed calcium or vitamin D so can't help too much on that front.

Hello Beechnut, I have cancer in my left breast and went for my planning last week when they told me I didn't need to do the holding breath technique.  I'm going to ask at radiotherapy how they make this decision. I've been on Anastrozole for 2 weeks now and I take it before bed, although I still have occasional nausea.  I'm 66 and although I stopped having hot flushes several years ago, in the last year I have found it hard to control my body temperature and go from cold to hot in seconds, but so far on Anastrozole, this has not got any worse. You got through your radiotherapy and in time, the horrid memories will hopefully get less.

Hi

The aim of the breath hold is to move your chest wall away from your heart.When you have your radiotherapy planning CT the radiographers can tell if breath hold is going to be advantageous to you or not.Some people don’t need to hold their breath due to their anatomy as their heart falls naturally out of the way of the treatment beam.