What is DIBH in radiation therapy?

What is DIBH in radiation therapy?

Deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) is a radiation therapy technique where patients take a deep breath during treatment, and hold this breath while the radiation is delivered. By taking a deep breath in, your lungs fill with air and your heart will move away from your chest.

How effective is DIBH?

Many studies have shown that deep-inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) can spare the heart during irradiation of the left breast, reducing heart MD by 26.2–75.0%, to ~0.7–5.0 Gy.

What is DIBH used for?

Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) is a technique used while breast cancer patients receive radiation treatment. Holding a deep breath while receiving radiation therapy is one of many techniques used to help physicians reduce the amount of radiation that reaches the heart.

How do you practice DIBH?

For the DIBH technique, patients should take deep inspiration and hold for approximately 20 seconds during the simulation or treatment process. The air filling inside the chest will move the heart position away from the treatment field.

Why do you hold your breath during radiation?

When you hold your breath, it inflates your lungs and pushes your heart away from your chest wall and the treatment area. This helps minimize any potential radiation damage to the heart.

How long do you have to hold your breath during radiotherapy?

Procedure Details One way to protect your heart while you are receiving radiation therapy is to hold your breath via DIBH. The radiation is then delivered to your breast while you are holding your breath deeply for 20 seconds. This will provide protection for your heart.

Do you have to hold your breath during radiotherapy?

One way to protect your heart while you are receiving radiation therapy is to hold your breath via DIBH. The radiation is then delivered to your breast while you are holding your breath deeply for 20 seconds. This will provide protection for your heart.

Do you have to hold your breath during radiation therapy?

Can I take vitamins during radiation?

Taking small amounts of antioxidants does not affect your radiation treatment. Small amounts of antioxidants like those found in food and some multivitamins are safe.

Do you gain weight from radiation?

But cancer itself — along with side effects from treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery — can significantly impact your appetite, eating habits, activity levels, and weight.

Why do you get tired during radiation?

Most people start to feel tired after a few weeks of radiation therapy. This happens because radiation treatments destroy some healthy cells as well as the cancer cells. Fatigue usually gets worse as treatment goes on. Stress from being sick and daily trips for treatment can make fatigue worse.