I couldn't properly hold my breath for Breath Hold Radiotherapy now worried it will damage my heart

[Handbagaddict]

Did they remember to put a peg on your nose? I ask only because the one time during my 15 breath hold rads when I struggled to get through it was the time they realised afterwards that I hadn’t had the nose peg on. It’s pretty hard to hold your breath for extended periods without the nose peg because you do get leakage through your nose......

[Appletree]

In addition to what Gill has described, I found it helped, when reaching the point at which I had to hold my breath, to visualise my chest being stationary and then count in seconds whilst keeping absolutely stock still. Being conscious of being a horizontal statue seemed to help.

It's a pity your hospital doesn't supply goggles to show breath control, as they really do help.

There was one occasion when the goggles were out of order, so the radiographers had to tell me when to 'hold'. Then they remained silent until the 'relax' command, which was a little disconcerting. Would it help you if you could ask the radiographers to give you more of a commentary? Say, after telling you to 'hold', could they count through the seconds for you until it's time to relax? Having something to concentrate on other than your actual breathing might help. It's also more reassuring if there is some form of monitoring to give you confidence.

[annie0000]

Thank you.  I'm going to ring the oncologist on Monday and ask to try it again.  It would have helped I think if I could see what I was doing, but my hospital doesn't have the right machine where you can see if your breath is staying in the required zone.  There's no reason why I can't do it I'm sure, I just didn't know the right way to do it!  Thanks!

[Gill3105]

Hi Annie. Sorry you had problems with the breathe hold routine. If it helps I can say how I did it. I’m not saying it will work with you but it might do with practice of which I did prior to my rads and got to holding for 45 seconds whereas the actual hold breath during treatment is approx 20/25 secs x 2. They should/will do a practice run prior to the team leaving the room and as with you it didn’t work then they won’t go ahead. Thankfully it only happened once with me so I got off the bed had a walk round and yes they had to measure me up again but second time was fine. So...... this was my routine for breath hold. The think to remember is you need to breathe in through the chest and not the stomach. Keep stomach flat and raise the chest. I went straight to the breath hold no countdown so once you hear over the speaker “ok take that breath for me please”. Exhale deep then breath in slowly through the mouth raising chest st the same time for 2/3 seconds continue to inhale but close the mouth for the last few seconds still bring the chest up. At this point I put my tongue to the roof of my mouth and held at the same time pushing my chest up from the inside. Sound complicated but it worked well for me. Give it a try it might help. The team will know once your chest is high enough and the breath is deep enough. Don’t let out any air through the nose as the chest will drop and so will the machine. Keep practising you will get there. My oncologist said with the left side there is the possibility of the heart and lungs being damaged by the treatment and that this will be monitored during appointments. Good luck.

[annie0000]

I had the test to try and hold my breath for the Breath Hold Radiotherapy today.  I had a small 1cm tumour on my left breast which they removed with a lumpectomy in July.  I had the test to see if I could hold my breath, but it kept leaking out from somewhere!  I don't know where!  I suspect they hadn't explained how to do it properly?  I am normally a fit and well person and non smoker so I should have the lung capacity etc to be able to do this.  Anyway, they tried for 4 times and it didn't work so they said I couldn't do it.  I am very worried not that RT will damage my heart and lungs.  They said the could 'put bits of lead' over places to prevent damage, but I wasn't filled with confidence.  Am now thinking I won't have the RT.  I am 51.  Anyone else had this situation?