Radiation therapy

Breast cancer radiation therapy

by Gemita - 2022-12-10 04:21:44

Frances, firstly I am so very sorry to hear about your breast cancer diagnosis and the concerns you have getting radiation treatment with your pacemaker.  As a cancer survivor however, I know the importance of getting effective treatment quickly and I know from comments here on this site that it is possible to have radiotherapy with a pacemaker although all specialities:  oncologist, cardiologist, radiologist will all need to be closely involved to monitor you during and after treatment to help keep you and your pacemaker safe.

One member here recently had radiotherapy for her breast cancer and I will quote from her update in June:

"Done!

Hello, I just wanted to update you on my situation since it could help other people.  
After getting 3 different opinions by 3 different surgeons and radiation oncologists (in California) I was able to undergo radiation therapy with my pacemaker. I had 2 surgeries and 24 sessions of radiation and everything went well. So far so good. 
The pacemaker was not in the direct field of radiation so the doctors decided it was safe for me to undergo the treatment. 
A magnet on the pacemaker was placed during each session and a Boston Scientific representative checked on me a few times before radiation. 
I hope this information can help other people like me. 
I got my treatment at City of Hope in Duarte, CA." 

I have read that therapeutic radiation for treating cancerous tumours can damage the pacemaker's circuits. The degree of damage is unpredictable and may vary with different pacemaker systems.  The risk appears to build up as the radiation dose increases.  It is recommended that the pacemaker be shielded as much as possible, and moved if it lies directly in the radiation field.  ECG monitoring should be done during the treatment, and your pulse generator should be tested often after and between radiation sessions.

Frances, I do not know where you live in the States but I would get another opinion if necessary as to how best to proceed.  What is in no doubt though is your need for early effective treatment to have the best chance of a successful outcome.  I hope everything goes well for you  

treatment

by Tracey_E - 2022-12-10 11:38:14

If the pacer is in the way of where they need to treat, the pacer can be moved. 

Radiotherapy with a pacemaker.

by Selwyn - 2022-12-10 12:28:40

I had radiotherapy with a pacemaker. I had radiotherapy to the middle of my back at chest level. The pacemaker was affected with the rate response turned on ( the electrical current of the radiotherapy caused a tachycardia).  Once the rate response was turned off this was OK. (1 session?).

I also had linear accelerator radiotherapy to head and neck ( witht the rate response turned off), all was OK. 14 sessions.

We wish you well. It has been some years since my radiotherapy. It does seem to have been effective. There are certainly lots of survivors of breast cancer. It is good news that your tumour is radiosensative.