Heart protection for cancer patients

Radiotherapists try to target as small an area as necessary

Scientists believe they can prevent the risk of heart disease associated wth radiotherapy for breast cancer.

Many breast cancer patients receive radiotherapy after surgery in order to "mop up" any cancer cells which have not been removed.

As the beam of radiation is fired directly at the chest, however, it can also damage other tissues, including those of the heart and surrounding blood vessels.

The beauty of this technique is its simplicity

Dr Phil Evans, Institute of Cancer Research

This may make the patient more vulnerable to heart disease later in life.

Researchers at the Institute of Cancer Research in Surrey believe that a new type of radiotherapy, called IMRT (intensity modulated radiotherapy), could prevent this.

This is because the radiation blast is carefully controlled and moulded to exactly fit the shape of the tumour, thus substantially reducing the amount reaching healthy tissues.

The technique has already been used to try to cut the amount of scarring and pain caused by conventional radiotherapy.

Now scientists are harnessing it to try to protect the heart as well.

A group of 20 women will be given a version of IMRT treatment in conjunction with a special breathing device.

This allows patients to hold their breath during treatment - when the lungs are full, the heart is positioned further away from the breasts, reducing the dose of radiation likely to pass through to the organ.

Dr Phil Evans, who is leading the project, said: "The beauty of this technique is its simplicity.

It is important that treating one illness doesn't increase the risk of another

Belinda Linden, British Heart Foundation

"The further the heart is from the radiation, the less the risk of heart disease."

Belinda Linden, head of medical information at the British Heart Foundation, said women currently undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer should make sure they reduced the chance of eventual heart problems by not smoking and eating healthily.

"It is important that treating one illness doesn't increase the risk of another, so this new technique is great news because it can reduce the added risk of heart disease.

"It's vital that, as well as checking their breasts for lumps, women don't ignore the need to develop a healthier lifestyle."