Can Breathing Training Improve Breast Cancer Radiation Therapy? Findings from an MD Anderson Study
Winthrop Wealth, giving back means investing in work that matters. This study, funded in honor of Maria Winthrop, explored how breathing instruction can help breast cancer patients during radiation therapy at MD Anderson Cancer Center. The results were meaningful enough that we have committed to funding the next phase.
When we first shared the story of our partnership with MD Anderson Cancer Center and Dr. Belisa Vranich, we described it as a commitment to supporting research and patient care. Today, we are pleased to share a milestone: the final patient in the study has completed her radiation therapy. Based upon the results of the study, the next phase will start — we have committed to funding it. This moment calls for reflection and gratitude. The study, led by Dr. Melissa Mitchell and Dr. Belisa Vranich, explored the use of diaphragmatic breathing techniques during breast radiation therapy. Based on observations shared by the study team, breathing instruction may help some patients better perform breath-hold techniques used in certain radiation protocols, allowing them to receive radiation therapy under the standard preferred approach. Patients also reported that the instruction was helpful in coping with stress during treatment. Final analyses and peer-reviewed publication will determine the study’s conclusions. The study also prompted interest across the department. Therapists, nurses, and social workers asked for additional education on the techniques Dr. Vranich was teaching, both to support patients and for general wellness. The head of radiology technologists requested a presentation for staff, and GYN oncology nursing teams expressed interest in learning more, including potential connections between breathing mechanics and pelvic floor engagement.
In the Words of Dr. Vranich
Dr. Vranich shared an example from early in the study: one morning, she was called in to work with a patient who initially could only hold her breath for seven seconds and might have needed to switch to a different treatment approach. By later that day, the patient was able to hold her breath for 47 seconds and proceed with the standard radiation protocol. This is a single patient experience shared for illustration and may not be representative of broader study results.
That story points to broader questions the clinical community continues to explore. Certain breath-hold techniques are used in radiation therapy to reduce motion and, in some cases, to limit exposure to nearby organs compared with some free-breathing approaches. However, what is appropriate can vary by patient and clinical protocol. As Dr. Vranich has observed, patient instruction and cueing can differ meaningfully from clinic to clinic, even within the same institution. Standardizing training and instruction, where clinically appropriate, may help create a more consistent patient experience and could support more comparable research methods across sites, but outcomes would need to be evaluated through further study.
One compelling area of emerging interest is the connection between breathwork, anxiety, and the body’s ability to heal. Lowering anxiety at a physiological level, measured through markers like cortisol levels, heart rate variability, resting heart rate, and patient self-reports, may play a role in accelerating recovery. Dr. Vranich is actively exploring how this can be studied in a rigorous and quantifiable way. Research has already shown that breathwork can influence immune response in meaningful ways, and understanding how that connection applies specifically to cancer treatment outcomes is a worthy next step.
In Honor of Maria
This project was made possible through the generous support of Earl, Max, and Lucas Winthrop of Winthrop Wealth, who funded this research in honor of Maria Winthrop. Maria’s strength and grace touched everyone around her, and carrying her memory forward through work that benefits women facing breast cancer treatment feels like exactly the right tribute. We know she would be proud.
“Supporting this research has been a true honor. We are deeply grateful to Dr. Mitchell, Dr. Vranich, and the entire MD Anderson team for their dedication, and we are committed to seeing this work continue to grow.” – Earl Winthrop / Winthrop Wealth
Looking Ahead
While the study has reached its conclusion, additional work remains, including analysis and potential dissemination of findings. The team plans to reconvene to review results and consider next steps. We are committed to supporting future efforts consistent with our charitable priorities.
We are deeply grateful to Dr. Melissa Mitchell, Dr. Belisa Vranich, and the entire team at MD Anderson for their dedication to this work. And we are grateful to our community for making it possible.
“Dr. Vranich has been an absolute joy to work with and has contributed so much to our patients, staff, and physicians. Education about proper breathing not only helps with accurate setup and treatment delivery, with sparing of the heart and lungs, but also with mental well-being. I am sure this will translate to benefit thousands more patients moving forward.” – Dr. Melissa Mitchell / MD Anderson Cancer Center
< Accolades
March 30, 2026
Can Breathing Training Improve Breast Cancer Radiation Therapy? Findings from an MD Anderson Study
Winthrop Wealth, giving back means investing in work that matters. This study, funded in honor of Maria Winthrop, explored how breathing instruction can help breast cancer patients during radiation therapy at MD Anderson Cancer Center. The results were meaningful enough that we have committed to funding the next phase.
When we first shared the story of our partnership with MD Anderson Cancer Center and Dr. Belisa Vranich, we described it as a commitment to supporting research and patient care. Today, we are pleased to share a milestone: the final patient in the study has completed her radiation therapy. Based upon the results of the study, the next phase will start — we have committed to funding it. This moment calls for reflection and gratitude. The study, led by Dr. Melissa Mitchell and Dr. Belisa Vranich, explored the use of diaphragmatic breathing techniques during breast radiation therapy. Based on observations shared by the study team, breathing instruction may help some patients better perform breath-hold techniques used in certain radiation protocols, allowing them to receive radiation therapy under the standard preferred approach. Patients also reported that the instruction was helpful in coping with stress during treatment. Final analyses and peer-reviewed publication will determine the study’s conclusions. The study also prompted interest across the department. Therapists, nurses, and social workers asked for additional education on the techniques Dr. Vranich was teaching, both to support patients and for general wellness. The head of radiology technologists requested a presentation for staff, and GYN oncology nursing teams expressed interest in learning more, including potential connections between breathing mechanics and pelvic floor engagement.
In the Words of Dr. Vranich
Dr. Vranich shared an example from early in the study: one morning, she was called in to work with a patient who initially could only hold her breath for seven seconds and might have needed to switch to a different treatment approach. By later that day, the patient was able to hold her breath for 47 seconds and proceed with the standard radiation protocol. This is a single patient experience shared for illustration and may not be representative of broader study results.
That story points to broader questions the clinical community continues to explore. Certain breath-hold techniques are used in radiation therapy to reduce motion and, in some cases, to limit exposure to nearby organs compared with some free-breathing approaches. However, what is appropriate can vary by patient and clinical protocol. As Dr. Vranich has observed, patient instruction and cueing can differ meaningfully from clinic to clinic, even within the same institution. Standardizing training and instruction, where clinically appropriate, may help create a more consistent patient experience and could support more comparable research methods across sites, but outcomes would need to be evaluated through further study.
One compelling area of emerging interest is the connection between breathwork, anxiety, and the body’s ability to heal. Lowering anxiety at a physiological level, measured through markers like cortisol levels, heart rate variability, resting heart rate, and patient self-reports, may play a role in accelerating recovery. Dr. Vranich is actively exploring how this can be studied in a rigorous and quantifiable way. Research has already shown that breathwork can influence immune response in meaningful ways, and understanding how that connection applies specifically to cancer treatment outcomes is a worthy next step.
In Honor of Maria
This project was made possible through the generous support of Earl, Max, and Lucas Winthrop of Winthrop Wealth, who funded this research in honor of Maria Winthrop. Maria’s strength and grace touched everyone around her, and carrying her memory forward through work that benefits women facing breast cancer treatment feels like exactly the right tribute. We know she would be proud.
“Supporting this research has been a true honor. We are deeply grateful to Dr. Mitchell, Dr. Vranich, and the entire MD Anderson team for their dedication, and we are committed to seeing this work continue to grow.” – Earl Winthrop / Winthrop Wealth
Looking Ahead
While the study has reached its conclusion, additional work remains, including analysis and potential dissemination of findings. The team plans to reconvene to review results and consider next steps. We are committed to supporting future efforts consistent with our charitable priorities.
We are deeply grateful to Dr. Melissa Mitchell, Dr. Belisa Vranich, and the entire team at MD Anderson for their dedication to this work. And we are grateful to our community for making it possible.