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Breast Focus Group

Chair: 
Sofia Rivera, Radiation Oncologist, Institut Gustave Roussy (FR)

Vice-Chairs: 
Liesbeth Boersma, Radiation Oncologist, Department of Radiation Oncology (Maastro), GROW Research Institute for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht (NL)
Charlotte Coles, Clinical Oncologist, University of Cambridge, Oncology Centre (UK)
Jean-Michel Hannoun-Levi, Radiation Oncologist, University of Côte d'Azur (FR)

Core Members:
Ingvil Mjaaland, Clinical Oncologist, Stavanger University Hospital (NO)
Icro Meattini, Radiation Oncologist, University of Florence (IT)
Angel Montero, Radiation Oncologist, Hospital Universitario Madrid Sanchinarro (ES)
Orit Kaidar-Person, Radiation Oncologist, Chaim Sheba Medical Center (IL)
Marianne Aznar, Medical Physicist, The University of Manchester (UK)
Sandra Hol, Radiation Therapist, Institute Verbeeten (NL)
Philip Poortmans, Radiation Oncologist, Iridium Netwerk & University of Antwerp (BE)
Cristina Gutiérrez, Radiation Oncologist, Institut Català d'Oncologia (ES)
Dorota Gabrys, Radiation Oncologist, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology (PL)
Pedro Fernandes, Radiation Oncologist, IPO Porto (PT)
Brunilda Profka Haxhiu, Radiation Oncologist, University Clinical Center of Kosovo (XK)
Samantha Dicuonzo, Radiation Oncologist, European Institute of Oncology (IT)
Ruggero Spoto, Radiation Oncologist, Humanitas research hospital (IT)
Yasemin Bölükbaşı, Radiation Oncologist, American Hospital (TU)

In 2025, an ESTRO Working Group was initiated about cardiac substructures in radiation therapy related to the radio-induced side effects:  "Beyond the Whole Heart in RT" Working Group 

This Working Group was created by the Breast Focus Group and involved the Lung and AI Focus Groups. 

From 1 September to 14 October, the Working Group is running a survey: Whole Heart and Cardiac Substructures in Radiation Therapy – Current Clinical Practice for different specialties, including Medical  Physicists, Radiation Oncologists treating Breast cases, Radiation Oncologists treating Esophagus  cases, Radiation Oncologists treating Lung cases, Radiation Oncologists treating Lymphoma cases, and Radiation Oncologists treating Pediatric cases. 

The aim of this survey is to assess current practices regarding the management of cardiac side effects associated with thoracic radiotherapy, from both the medical and physics perspectives. Since this survey intends to reflect clinical practice, every clinical team can answer even though they are not looking at the cardiac substructures.  

This survey covers radiation therapy for breast cancer, esophagus cancer, lung cancer with SBRT, lung cancer with standard fractionation, lymphoma and pediatric cases. One link has been edited by specialty to capture particularities per treatment site, and is intended to be used by one referee within your centre:  

  • Radiation Oncologists treating Lung cases: Lung survey 

By answering this survey, you agree that the anonymised results may be presented at conferences and published. Contact information will be used only if clarification is required.  

This survey navigates within the following sections depending on your specialty:  

  • General information 

  • Approximate average number of cases per year treated by RT at your centre?  

  • Cardiac assessment and Follow-up 

  • Contouring of cardiac substructures, Tools and Imaging 

  • Treatment planning with potential compromise on the whole heart and/or cardiac substructures 

  • Training 

  • Associated research 

PDF documents provide an overview of the questions, allowing to prepare the answers before completing them. 

Completing the survey will take no more than 15-20 minutes. Conditions are defined based on the responses to certain questions. As a result, the number of questions each participant will go through depends on their previous answers. 

Thank you for your valuable contribution. We deeply appreciate your time and inputs! 

Loïg Vaugier, Alexandra Moignier, Marianne Aznar, and Mario Levis on behalf of the Working Group