CAN’T HOLD MY BREATH

Ive just finished a vey intensive radiotherapy course and the most i had hold my breath for was 12 seconds. At RT planning they got me practicing holding for 15 seconds. 20 seconds does sound extremely long!

Hi

I’m an ex radiotherapy radiographer so hopefully I can reassure you.

The reason they ask you to hold your breath is to move your chest wall away from your heart. Some people are unable to do the breath hold technique so the heart /lungs will be shielded out of the treatment area by using small lead blocks inside the head of the treatment machine.

The breath hold technique is a fairly recent innovation ……ie adopted widely about 8 years ago as new technology was made available so many millions of women have been treated using the shields as above.

Some ladies with left sided breast cancer don’t need to breath hold due to their anatomy.

The dosimetrists will be preparing your personalised plan now. Please don’t worry.Let the machine do the work for you.

Hope this helps

Hi Exraygirl,

Thanks so much for this detail explanations.  It is so helpful and reassuring. 

Regards

Atet

Hi , lovely replies already but just wanted to add that many folk here have posted in the past re not being able to do the breath hold so it’s not just you! And I’m sure  lesleyhelen won’t mind me tagging her as I know she’s written about this on previous threads. Good luck with it all, HFxx

I couldn't breathe either, just finished 15 sssions yesterday, they just do the work for you.  It seems fairly common and nothing to worry about.

Nora HThank so much. This is very encouraging. 

Hello im sorry this has been on your mind. I start my rt tomorrow for 15 sessions and at my planning appointment i found it really difficult aswell and they had to keep asking me to try again. I am just going to do my best and thats all i can do and hopefully will be ok. I know how u feel. I hope it goes well.  X

You’re welcome

Hope your treatment goes well

Hi. I’ve just done 23 sessions of RT.  I had the same problem as you, worrying I couldn’t do it.  Lying on the bed during treatment, I just looked at the ceiling, a picture of trees, switched off, thought about out walking in the sunshine and it just passed quickly.  So deep breaths and thinking positive about something nice does help.  Good luck and big hugs.