Cancer Covered

Breast Radiation and Heart Disease

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Radiation oncologists Dr. Michael Guiou and Dr. Alex Coffman discuss why patients with left-sided breast cancer face an increased risk of heart disease due to the proximity of the heart to the tumor. They explain how historical advancements in radiation technology initially led to higher doses reaching the heart and detail the modern techniques now used to mitigate this risk.  

“You don’t want to cure their cancer, but increase their risk of having a heart attack later on in life.” – Dr. Michael Guiou 

In this episode of Cancer Covered, you’ll learn: 

  • The primary reason left-sided breast cancer patients are at higher risk is the heart’s position on the left side of the chest, which makes it more susceptible to radiation exposure. 
    • Advancements in radiation therapy in the 1960s, while improving deep-body targeting, also unintentionally increased the radiation dose to the heart. 
      • Modern techniques like deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH), prone positioning, and advanced planning are used to keep radiation away from the heart. 
        • These modified treatments have significantly reduced the risk of heart disease for most patients. 
          • Patients with pre-existing risk factors for heart disease, such as smoking or diabetes, are at an even higher risk, so it’s crucial to manage those factors. 

            • We’ve Got Cancer…Covered.

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