Cape Breton Cancer Centre introduces new breast cancer treatment method

The Cape Breton Cancer Centre is using a new technique called breath/holdto treat some breast cancer patients.

It's a simpletechnique that requires the patient to take a deep breath and hold it for 20 to 30 seconds to allow a radiation beamtofocus and more accurately hit itsintended area.

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The Nova Scotia Health Authority says the centreat the Cape Breton Regional Hospitalis the first in Atlantic Canada to adopt the technique.

"The heart comes very close to the chest wall and we are treating the chest wall, so when they hold their breath,it pushes the heart downwards and out of the radiation field," saidDr,WaseemSharieff, a radiation oncologist at the centre.

Without breath/hold, the areanear the chest wall, including the heart and a major artery,would get "a significant amount of radiation," said Sharieff.

Sharieff says the technique was developed over the past decade as physicians and researchers learned more about the impactof radiation on the heart and coronary vessels.

He says research began to show that for years after radiation treatment, some patientswere at greater risk of heart attack or other long-term cardiac complications.

Lots of practise

Ivy Seymour ofNeilsHarbourhas just finished her breast cancer treatment and is now receivingfollowupat the centre.

She says practising the new technique was the most challenging part of her therapy.

"When Ifirst started practising, Iprobably could do it for 15 seconds," she recalled. "Iprobably drove my husband crazy, timing me and holding it."

She says knowing the new technique would not only help her get better treatment but also protect her from heart disease made the overall procedure easier to deal with.

She says she's better now because of early detection, which picked up a smalltreatable tumour. After it was removed, she receivedradiation.

Sharieff says the centre treats300 breast cancer patients a year, about 75 of whomwill benefit from the new technique.

The breath/hold technique was developed by the Juravinski Cancer Centre in Hamilton, Ont.