Has anyone had any issues since having radiotherapy on the left hand side? I’m really worried about doing this treatment in a few weeks on my left hand side. I’ve done it before on my right with no issues. But now I’m really scared of possible heart damage. I’m a runner and a hill climber and I don’t want heart damage to stop me being active.
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Hi @smiler4
I had 9 sessions of radiotherapy on my left side in January. Because of the position of the heart you will more than likely have to do the breathing exercises. At my radio planning meeting they went through it with me. They built it up so I could hold it for 25 seconds. I do have asthma but managed it with no trouble. At my trust I had the “active breathing coordinator “. This was a clamp on my nose and like a snorkel in my mouth. I was given a controller with a button at the top. This enabled me to stop the machine if I was struggling with my breath. I never needed to stop it. I am not sure if this is used everywhere. My oncologist said that the risk to the heart is tiny. I found radiotherapy the easiest of all the treatments.
Good luck.
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Hello,
I had 5 daily sessions of radiotherapy in 2021 on my left side.
The staff prepare you a couple of wks prior to actual treatment, teaching you to hold breath for 30 seconds. I used to practise at home, it’s not so difficult.
The worst bit was the tiredness that kicked in after about 7 days after completing. Just rest as needed.
Wishing you all the best in your treatments xx
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Thank you Big Pickle
Thanks. I had the planning session yesterday and luckily I’m fine with the breath holding. Do you get regular heart checks afterwards??
Hi @smiler4 
It’s really difficult to tell with risks isn’t it, we can never really know how any of our treatment will affect us and no one can tell us for certain, it makes our decisions that much more difficult!
I’m actually part of a trial at my hospital where they are weighing up the long term risk of heart damage with radiotherapy compared with proton beam therapy, so I am meant to get additional CT scans on my heart to see what’s happening. I’m due to have my first one this year so it’ll be interesting to see if there’s been any change! As part of the trial I had extra CT scans done before starting radiotherapy where I was told I had just over 2% risk of heart tissue damage, though I must stress that this is for me personally and this was all measured at my hospital. I’m not sure if they can offer something like this for you? Or if you’d like to see if you’re eligible for the trial I can send you a message with this trial you get treatment either way, there is no arm without treatment or with placebo etc.
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I wasn’t offered any heart checks either before or since my BC radiotherapy.
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Hi, I had 20 doses on my left years ago. Breath holding was not discovered then, so not used. I had herceptin too, which can cause heart problems. That was 19 years ago and I am a runner, triathlete, skier, do weights and yoga. Try not to worry, plan your next event/adventure and focus on that. Best wishes.
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Hi smiler4, I had 5 sessions on the left coming up on 2 years ago, eithout any issues. I was told I would need to hold my breath for up to 30 seconds. I practised at home and managed. I am told the machine stops if you do breath. I have had no heart check ups since radiotherapy. Best wishes and hope it goes well x
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Thanks that’s great to hear that you are doing all these things!! I’m very impressed 
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I read that heart checks were standard but it wasn’t mentioned to me. Thanks for letting me know xxx
Thanks for letting me know. I’m glad you are doing well X
The clinical trial sounds interesting. I have read that the proton beam causes less damage but you have to go private for this treatment at a cost of around £40k. There are only 2 machines in the uk. And I live near one of them!! Thanks for the offer but I don’t think I can handle more CT scans anyway 
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Hi Smiler4
I had bilateral lumpectomies and a further surgery on my left side, followed by five sessions of radiotherapy. I had a problem holding my breath so the radiologist said that there wasn’t a problem and it was continued as a normal. However, I did suffer from breathlessness a few days into the treatment and my gp did an immediate referral to a&e to check no clots.
CT scan was clear and hospital said because I’d had a double whammy that it had caused that to happen.
I was a bit tired and frustrated because I could walk very fast for a little while( I walk two speeds- fast and stop 
)
But other than that all was fine
So I wouldn’t worry about anything. The mapping takes a lot longer than the treatment and I just counted the tiles on the ceiling. Staff are really good I found and before long it was all over and done with.
You don’t get any checks on your heart afterwards.
Good luck
Lynn
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Yes I was hoping to get onto the proton beam arm but didn’t get allocated it unfortunately, but some “lucky” ladies out there are getting the PBT on the trial so I’m hoping it’s something that can and will be offered to everyone in the future. Good luck with the rest of your treatment, I hope it goes ok! 
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Hi smiler4
Take a look at website https://www.respire.org.uk
It includes videos to train people on exactly how to practice the breath hold technique. They recommend practising for a couple of weeks beforehand, but sounds like you have it under control already. Worth a look, though.
None of my medical team even mentioned this website. It was only when I paid for a private oncologist’s appointment did he mention it … only days before my radiotherapy began. Great. Thanks, NHS !
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Thanks for the link I will definitely check this out
Glad all was ok and thank you Lynn!!
I had 20 sessions on my lefthand side over a year ago, as has been said you do breath holds to ‘lift’ your heart out of the way. I was told the machine cuts out if you breathe. I haven’t had any problems, had my radiotherapy September 2023. Good luck 
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Hello
I had 15 sessions of radiotherapy in February and found holding my breath easy even though I have COPD.
I am having an echocardiogram next week. I have had them regularly all through treatment so it’s not specifically because of radiotherapy. I was told that it’s because one of my chemo drugs can possibly affect the heart and I’m slightly at risk because of my lung problems.
I wonder if you can speak to your team and explain your concerns and ask for your heart to be checked out before and after radiotherapy.
Apart from tiredness I found the radiotherapy to be fine.
Best wishes xx
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