Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) | Icon Oncology Malaysia

What is Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH)?

Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) is a technique often used during radiotherapy for left-sided breast cancer to help protect the heart. During treatment, patients take a deep breath and hold it for a short period while radiation is delivered. When the lungs fill with air, the heart moves slightly away from the chest wall and breast, increasing the distance between the heart and the treatment area. This helps reduce the amount of radiation the heart receives.

How does it work?

The method requires patients with left-sided breast cancer to hold their breath for a period while treatment is administered – hence the name Deep Inspiration Breath Hold.

Taking a deep breath in, increases the amount of air in the lungs and also the distance between the heart and the area of the breast receiving radiation treatment. Increasing the distance between the radiation beams and the heart reduces the subsequent potential risk of heart injury that may present three to five years after treatment.

Practicing at home

Before your CT/Planning and your first treatment appointment, it can be helpful to practice your breathing technique at home. Here's how:

Find a comfortable spot at home to lie down
Place your arms above your head (this is the position you will be in for treatment)
Try holding your breath for 20 seconds at a time
Concentrate on breathing through your chest rather than your belly/abdomen
Repeat this breathing pattern 6-10 times until you feel comfortable

Deep Inspiration Breath Hold

During DIBH

We understand that some patients may feel anxious about DIBH, but each individual breath hold is less than thirty seconds. To ensure patients are comfortable, our care team will take the time to conduct practice runs, and will also show you how to practice at home.

The system is directly linked to the treatment machine (linear accelerator) and only allows the radiation to be delivered when the chest is in the correct position. If it's not, don’t worry, the machine will not turn on unless you are in the correct breath hold. You'll be in control for the duration of the treatment.