Using breathing assistance to reduce heart damage during breast cancer radiation

This trial is testing whether adding continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)—a breathing assistance device—during radiation therapy for breast cancer can reduce the amount of radiation exposure to the heart. Women who have had breast-conserving surgery for early-stage breast cancer are invited to participate. The study compares standard radiation treatment with and without CPAP to see if this simple addition can protect your heart while treating cancer effectively.

Radiation therapy for breast cancer, especially on the left side, can expose the heart to radiation that may increase heart disease risk later in life. This trial exists to see whether using a breathing device during treatment can position your organs in a way that keeps radiation away from your heart, reducing long-term harm without compromising cancer treatment.