Prone breast radiation treatment is the use of breast radiation while the woman is in a prone position, or face downward. This style of breast radiation treatment can be particularly effective for women with large breasts. Prone breast radiation utilizes a breast board, which allows the breast(s) to hang below the woman as she is in the prone position. Previously, radiation treatments utilized the supine, or face up, position. In the supine position the breasts sink close to the chest wall. The prone position results in decreased skin folds and can help target radiation treatments directly to the breast tissue in question as opposed to deeper into the vulnerable lung or heart.
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