Deep Inspiration Breath Hold

If you are having radiation on the left breast, you will probably be instructed to take a deep breath and hold it during treatment to move the breast away from the heart and limit the amount of radiation that reaches it. You may want to practice this beforehand. They will want you to take the exact same breath each time, and you will need to be able to hold it for several seconds. If you've never developed any awareness of your breathing, the first day of radiation is not the ideal time to start. If you don't get it right, you'll have to do it again; they cannot administer the radiation unless your breast is exactly where it's supposed to be. It's not hard if you have normal lung function, but it is a specific deep breath (in your chest, not your belly) and you may want to have some confidence about this ahead of time. You will be lying topless on a table with your arms above your head, so your confidence will already be put to the test! 😜 Go to YouTube and search DIBH (Deep Inspiration Breath Hold). There are many videos to choose from. You can do this!