Radiotherapy - prone position .

Hello Jersey girl,  I did talk with my radiation oncologist about it but I was too small breasted and also he radiated a small area of the lower lymph nodes.  So I had to do the deep breath holding technique.  I live in Florida so don’t know anything about availability in UK.  
Barbara

Thanks Barbara . I think most centers in the UK  use the deep breathing method too .

May have to go with that method ,  but hoping there may be someone on here that has had radiotherapy in prone position .

Best wishes Jerseygirl 

Good luck finding one.  I think it is similar to having mri done on breasts as far as lying prone but much quicker.

Barbara

And less noisy ! 

Hi,  just about to start RT privately (Hampshire) for my left breast. When they do your plan, and CT scan, they'll consider how best to do your RT and whether prone or through deep breath is best. 

I don't believe we get a choice. 

Hi Buzzz,

Thanks for the reply. I hope your radiotherapy goes well. I think we may be in the same area, as I am likely to go to the Spires in Southampton. 

Sometimes a no choice treatment is easier than having to make a decision between two possibilities ? I think I am due to have 5 days of radiotherapy, but I have not seen the oncologist yet as I'm only a week post surgery. 

I would be interested to know what decision is made regarding positioning for you and wish you well with all your treatment.

Jerseygirl 

Hi!  My left breast was treated and used the deep breath method lying on my back.  No experience of prone position tho.

Prone Breast radiotherapy is generally only used in the uK for larger pendulous breasts. The normal treatment here is deep inspiration breath hold or DIBH for left sided breast cancer and some right sided case dependent upon anatomy.

Your radiotherapy plan is personalised to you and is based on your ct scan. Every effort is made to minimise dose to the heart and lungs. Sometimes internal shields in the head of the machine are used as extra protection.

Some ladies don’t need to do the breath hold as their anatomy has shown that the heart and lungs are far enough from the beam 

It is far more comfortable and quicker and for you to have your treatment in the supine position 

Take care 

Thank you very much for such a detailed explanation Exraygirl. That all makes a lot of sense and I guess I will just have to wait and see what is suggested. All a little way off at present, as only 1 week post surgery at the moment.  

Best wishes, Jerseygirl

Thank you. I hope you are recovering well.