RJN Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 Due to start radiation next week, and had my breath recorded and CT planning scan. I am asked to breathe as regularly as I can and am shown a monitor where my breath has to stay between two lines. I find it really difficult and panic which results in too deep inhales and exhales. I am told that during the actual radiation, the machine will stop each time I go outside the lines. I know it sounds silly, but I am getting really stressed as I am scheduled for 30 sessions. Has anybody experienced this, and if so, do you have any tips? Thank you, Rikke LouT 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Galli Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 Rikke, I've had lots of radiation but never a procedure that required breathing regulation. I think I'd panic also if I had to keep my breathing rate between two lines. I think it would be far better not to have lines to look at and to just try and relax. Maybe a dose or two of Xanax might calm you during the procedure. Stay the course. Tom RJN and LouT 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJN Posted January 5, 2022 Author Share Posted January 5, 2022 Thanks Tom - How odd. Maybe it’s the specific VMAT IMRT technology or the location of the lesions in the upper lope. I also had 3 tattoos to ensure everything is exactly the same. Stressing me out a bit - but will try to close my eyes (and if it doesn’t work maybe the sedative route). LouT 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kris Rouse Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 I always laugh (silently) when they say breath normal. Once you think about how you are breathing you get out of a normal rhythm. Getting lost in mundane thoughts helps. And I definitely close my eyes. Good luck 👍 Kris LouT, Tom Galli and RJN 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouT Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 RJN, I used to hate meditation because they always wanted me to slow down my breathing and the more I focused on breathing the more anxious I got and it took me so long to learn to ignore my thoughts and just breathe slow and relaxed. In your case this isn't meditation so I'm with Tom; if you need to take a Xanax and let it relax you so you can let your mind drift to more calm things. Lou Tom Galli and RJN 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judy M2 Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 Agree with everyone about the sedation. I need sedation when I go to the dentist! Rikke, I also got too focused on breathing normally and would start to breathe more heavily, but I never got to the point of them stopping. And this is when I was coughing a lot, so I worried about that too, but somehow didn't cough. The good news is that my coughing disappeared after a while. Hopefully you'll become accustomed to your treatments, but use the sedation if you need to. Radiation is a necessary evil and is very effective killing cancer. RJN, Tom Galli and LouT 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJN Posted January 13, 2022 Author Share Posted January 13, 2022 Update: first session went off without a hitch - they played semi-decent music and I closed my eyes and hummed along. 31 to go! Sally Lash, Judy M2, LouT and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJN Posted February 15, 2022 Author Share Posted February 15, 2022 Just for completeness, in case other radiotherapy people read this: So today was the planning scan for my adrenal SABR. And this time I was strapped into a heavy, wide “belt” to restrict movement from breathing. I was then asked to hold my breath for 25 seconds on the exhale. Try it - it is blimmin’ difficult (at least when your diaphragm is restricted)! I am planning to make these breathing challenges into my new party trick 😜😜😜. Tom Galli, Judy M2, LouT and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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