The buzz term “big data” has made a rapid entry onto the healthcare scene in the past couple years with promises of improving healthcare, but there are still many trying to figure out how exactly it will accomplish this. Efforts were made to explain big data and its application to healthcare at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) meetings earlier this year.

Women who have breast cancer on their left side present a particular challenge to radiation oncologists. Studies have shown that the risk of heart disease is higher in this group of women after radiation treatment. This is because it can be difficult to ensure a sufficient dose of radiation is delivered to the left breast while adequately shielding the heart from exposure. New research shows a woman who holds her breath during radiation pulses can greatly reduce radiation exposure to the heart.