For some patients — especially those with left-sided breast cancer or with tumors in organs in motion (e.g., lung, liver, pancreas) — taking and holding a deep breath moves critical organs farther from the treatment area or fixes a tumor that is typically in motion. With DIBH, your breathing is monitored in real time, and the radiation beam pauses if you fall outside the safe range. Your care team will create and compare treatment plans to determine whether DIBH is right for you.

Next step: Schedule a consultation with a Northwestern Medicine radiation oncologist to learn whether DIBH is suitable for your treatment.

To learn more, visit radiation oncology.