

Experts at The James are using a novel breast cancer treatment with patients lying on their stomachs, rather than their backs, for radiation therapy. By having a patient lying in the prone position during treatment, the breast assumes a more regular and natural shape while also moving it away from the chest wall, which protects the heart and lungs from any additional radiation that those organs might receive.

In many cases, radiation is given with the patient lying on her back, and while this can be very effective and safe, having the woman lie on her stomach will not only protect other organs from additional radiation, it will also reduce side effects during treatment and even out the dose of radiation to the breast.