Overview

If you are having radiotherapy and have a heart device, such as a pacemaker or an internal cardiac defibrillator (ICD), we will need to check your device regularly.

Risks with radiotherapy and heart devices

There is a small risk that radiotherapy treatment can cause temporary problems with the function of your heart device. For your safety, we will check your device before and after your treatment, to make sure it is not affected by the radiotherapy.   

Arranging your appointment

The cardiac (heart) doctor in the pacing clinic will decide how often your heart device must be checked during your treatment.

You will go to the pacing clinic after your radiotherapy planning CT scan, and after your first and last radiotherapy appointments. The cardiac doctor will then discuss further checking and appointments with you.

Where to go

Your appointments will be at a pacing clinic. They can be found at:

• Guy’s Hospital, 1st Floor, Southwark Wing, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
• St Thomas’ Hospital, Cardiac outpatients, Ground floor, North wing, Monday to Friday, 8:45am to 5pm

What to bring

You will need to bring your heart device ID card with you. This is something that you should carry at all times. It should have been given to you when the device was fitted. The staff in the cardiac department will need some of the information from this card.

You will be asked when your device was last checked. Please also bring this information with you when you attend your planning CT scan.