Radiotherapy for breast cancer can be improved by a technique which trains patients to hold their breath for up to five minutes, researchers reported today.
The technique has been developed in Birmingham, UK, and its developers say it means that radiotherapy can be administered daily in a single dose.
Breathing during treatment increases the risk of damage to healthy tissue and new procedures will aim to get patients to hold their breath for periods of 20 seconds.
But the Birmingham University researchers set out to teach patients to hold their breath for two minutes or more – allowing single dose treatment.
Some 15 patients took part in the trial and were taught techniques for breath-holding. After the training they achieved an average breath hold of 5.3 minutes.
The work has been reported in the British Journal of Radiology.
Researcher Dr Mike Parkes said: "Being able to hit the cancerous tumour accurately is essential to avoid damage to other areas, including the heart muscle. Having a stable chest that we can target in one dose could be invaluable in protecting the surrounding tissue.
"Although five minute breath-holds may seem astonishing to people, it is perfectly natural and safe for patients. Actually, anyone can do it. Patients are carefully monitored throughout the process and if their oxygen levels drop or their blood pressure rises above a certain level we would step in.
"The safety levels we use are very conservative so there is no risk attached."
British Journal of Radiology 12 May 2016
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