Alpha Cradles in breast cancer treatment: easy immobilization for the potentially difficult breast set up.

Due to the preference of the present multimodality treatment of breast cancer, we have found the need for a more customized approach to our patient set-up position. Using Smithers Medical Alpha Cradle Kits (AC 325) we have been able to achieve individual casts for our physically challenging patients. The results are a comfortable, easily reproducible position for a technically involved isocentric set-up which requires little additional simulation time and allows the majority of the allotted time for physics measurements and patient interaction. Examples of patient set-ups and consistent treatment field verification are discussed in the following pages.