Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers and 70% of people with breast cancer receive radiotherapy as part of their treatment.
The challenge to consider when exploring the options of treating breast cancer in an upright orientation is the effects of gravity on the breast tissue. When planning treatment to the breast we want to draw the tissue away from the chest wall to reduce radiation dose to the lungs and heart. When upright the breast tissue naturally falls flat against the chest wall and abdomen increasing the infra-mammary fold and keeping the breast tissue close to the chest wall.
Research
A study by Boisbouvier et al (2023) explored different treatment positions in an upright orientation, with and without the use of different radiotherapy bras, to receive radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer. Their research found that treating breast cancer in an upright position is feasible and some patients may also find this position more comfortable.
The study included 16 volunteers aged 34-90 with 9 volunteers having previously had conventional supine radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer.
The authors also confirmed that “tilting the backrest further backwards served to stretch out the body, reducing the extent to which abdomen bunched against the breasts”
Upright patient positioning systems, such as Leo Cancer Care’s solution which was used in this study, negate the need for costly, large rotating gantries and reduce amount of treatment room shielding that is required. These factors could make all forms of external beam radiotherapy more affordable and accessible. Despite breast cancer being the most common primary cancer site, this is the first known research into upright body positioning for breast radiotherapy, apart from a single case report.
Find out more about the radiotherapy bras in this study below: