The London Clinic is able to offer a specialist breathing technique called respiratory gating. This may be used for patients having radiotherapy to the left breast or left chest wall although the technique can be used for other treatment sites.
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What is it for?
Radiotherapy to the left breast or left chest wall
Respiratory gating consultation at The London Clinic
Breast/chest wall
If you need to receive radiotherapy to your left breast or left chest wall there is a possibility that your heart may be close to the treatment area. The heart is situated to the left side of the chest, but it varies in exact position for each person.
Respiratory gating is a special breathing technique which involves holding your breath at planned times.
Holding your breath when breathing in, increases the air in your lungs, which moves the chest wall away from the heart and this technique may help to minimise the radiation dose to the heart and it is called Deep Inspiration Breath Hold. (DIBH).
During your CT appointment, the radiographer will place a small lightweight reflective box on your chest. This together with infra-red camera will monitor your breathing and helps assess your suitability for respiratory gating.
You will be asked to hold your breath for around 20 seconds. We may ask you to wear a pair of special glasses. These glasses act as a visual aid to your breathing.
Chest and abdomen radiotherapy
If you are having treatment to your chest or abdomen, breath hold treatment may also be considered.
This is because internal organs in the chest and abdomen may move with breathing, Breath hold treatment either breathing in or breathing out, (expiration breath hold) may help to reduce the area we treat and target the treatment site more accurately.
If you are referred for breath hold treatment, the radiographer will monitor your breathing and asses your suitability for breath hold treatment as stated above.
The consultant and the planning team will review the scans and you breathing and decide if the breath hold treatment is of benefit or not.
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Where possible, we’ll provide a fixed-price package for your hospital care. This covers your hospital stay, nursing, and use of our facilities, giving you a clear guide to what those costs will be.
- Pre-op assessment
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Your consultant’s fees are quoted separately and shared directly by their office after your consultation. These professional fees cover the time, expertise, and care provided by your consultant before, during, and after your treatment. See our full terms and conditions
Why choose The London Clinic?
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We’ve teamed up with Chrysalis to offer you funding options that allow you to spread the cost of your treatment.
If you choose to pay for your treatment at The London Clinic over 12 months, you can make use of a great 0% interest option and pay nothing extra. Or you can choose to pay over two to five years at 14.9% APR.
Trustees of the London Clinic Ltd trading as The London Clinic is an Appointed Representative of Chrysalis Finance Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The London Clinic is a credit broker, not a lender. The provider of a payment scheme which is not offered through or by Chrysalis Finance Limited may not be so authorised and regulated. Cancer treatments or transplants aren’t covered by finance packages. Finance options are only available for UK patients.