It is February. You are going to see red hearts everywhere you look. Candy hearts. Paper hearts. Commercials about cholesterol.
The hidden risk of traditional radiation
When you have a tumor in the left breast or in the center of the chest, it sits very close to your heart. For decades, doctors have used standard X-ray radiation to treat these cancers. And it works. It kills the cancer.
But because X-rays pass all the way through the body, your heart often gets exposed to a low dose of radiation in the process.
It might not seem like a big deal right now. You are focused on the cancer. But 10 or 15 years down the road, that extra radiation can lead to heart disease, hardened arteries, or other cardiac issues. We want you to survive cancer, but we also want you to have a strong heart for the decades that follow.
How we protect the heart
This is one of the main reasons patients choose the Tennessee Proton Center.
Protons are different. Because we can control exactly where the beam stops, we can treat the breast tissue or the lymph nodes while virtually eliminating the radiation dose to the heart. The beam does its job and stops before it reaches the cardiac muscle.
We are essentially putting a shield around your heart.
Questions to ask your doctor
If you are exploring treatment options this month, don’t be afraid to get technical. Ask your radiation oncologist these two questions:
- “What is the projected ‘mean heart dose’ with this treatment plan?”
- “Is my anatomy suitable for proton therapy to reduce that risk?”
You are fighting for your life. Make sure you are fighting for your whole life, heart included.
Learn about Breast Cancer treatment:
Breast Cancer & Protons
Read the research on heart health:
American Heart Association: Cancer & Your Heart
