Can a person have radiation therapy with a defibrilator installed in their heart?

[brooke_blundell]

My dad has many heart attacks. He has one good artery left and the 13 small branches are diseased. He had the defibrillator put in a year ago. And yesterday was diagnosed with Adnoid Carcinoma and they have to radiation or so that is what I have read. Could someone please tell me if he can possible even due radiation.

 

[chattterus]

I am not a doctor, but I have a very hard time believing that he couldn't have radiation therapy. Even if the target was right beneath the defibrillator generator in the shoulder, they can remove the generator, a very simple procedure, hook the leads up to an external defibrillator unit and perform the radiation therapy. The unit can be reinstalled after. Expensive but very possible. More than likely they will just shield the unit in another way, and do what needs to be done.

 

[Selva]

This specialised proceedures will have to be done with the close consultation between the Cardiologist and the Oncologist.As one can imagine it is quite a rare situation.Best of Luck to your Dad.