Helping researchers improve radiotherapy resources

The original Respire website was created in 2018 to teach the ‘deep breath in and hold’ technique. The technique protects the heart during radiotherapy to treat cancer in the breast and chest wall.

The Respire+ project, led by Professor Heidi Probst and Dr Janet Ulman from Sheffield Hallam University, builds on the success of the original website. With support from Breast Cancer Voices, researchers are expanding these resources to make them even more accessible and comprehensive. The project is planning to translate existing content into several languages and develop new materials to prepare people for potential side effects, such as skin reactions or breast and trunk lymphoedema.

The updates aim to provide clear, practical information, helping those going through radiotherapy to feel confident throughout their treatment.

Our Breast Cancer Voices have been proud to contribute to this vital project. Through workshops and interviews, they’ve helped shape ideas for the new content.

Some of our Voices have also volunteered to take part in new videos for the Respire website. In these videos, they share their experiences of skin reactions or lymphoedema and how they managed these side effects, to help people prepare for radiotherapy.

Based on the insights shared by our Breast Cancer Voices, the research team is now planning to add more videos, animations, and myth-busting content to the Respire website. They’re also creating a self-monitoring tool to help track any changes in skin, breast, or trunk during and after radiotherapy. They hope this will allow people to self-manage symptoms and work together with their healthcare team. 

The researchers also plan to evaluate the resources in 3 radiotherapy departments in 2025, to ensure their developments are making a real difference during treatment. 

Radiotherapy can feel overwhelming, but projects like Respire+ are here to help. By sharing their stories, our Breast Cancer Voices have contributed to tools that will provide confidence, comfort, and practical support to people going through treatment.

This work wouldn’t be possible without the inspiring work of a fantastic team of researchers, radiographers, clinicians, designers, animators and more. We would like to give special thanks to:

• Helen Simpson - clinical consultant radiographer at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
• Helen Dring- clinical consultant radiographer at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
• Anna Southworth- research radiographer at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
• Rachel Harris (research lead)- head of professional practice and education at The Society and College of Radiographers
• Russell Mather – specialist technician at Sheffield Hallam University Media & Design technical team
• Stephen Florence- 3D Artist / Developer at Sheffield Hallam University Media & Design technical team
• Weston Park Cancer Charity who funded this work