Breathing training to protect the heart during breast cancer radiation
BReaTHS: Breast cancer Radiation Training for improved Heart Safety
This project teaches people with left‑side breast cancer to do reproducible deep‑breath holds at home and during treatment so less radiation reaches the heart.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11304594 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would use a personalized, anatomy‑informed system called BReaTHS to learn and practice deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) at home before your radiation begins. The program gives coaching and feedback to make your breath holds consistent across the typical 3–5 week treatment course. You would continue using the system during radiation to guide timing and positioning so the heart stays farther from the treatment beam. The approach aims to reduce variability in breathing that can increase heart radiation exposure.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with left‑sided breast cancer scheduled for external beam radiation—especially after breast‑conserving surgery—who can perform and practice breath holds are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People not receiving radiation, those with right‑sided breast cancer, or patients unable to reliably hold their breath or follow the home training program may not receive benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lower the amount of radiation your heart receives and reduce long‑term heart disease risk after breast cancer treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Deep inspiration breath hold is already known to reduce heart dose during breast radiation, but using a personalized home training and anatomy‑aware system like BReaTHS is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, United States
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Salwei, Megan Elizabeth — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Salwei, Megan Elizabeth
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.