Saint John’s Cancer Center is a pioneer in two new
options for post-lumpectomy radiation therapy for
early-stage breast cancer. MammoSite and SAVI applicators
allow for radiation therapy in a 5-day (twice daily)
treatment. Radiation is delivered by tiny seeds directly
into the lumpectomy cavity for a few minutes. The
alternative is 7 weeks of external beam radiation.
MammoSite Radiation Therapy System (RTS) for breast
cancer minimizes damage to healthy breast tissue.
MammoSite therapy is a partial breast irradiation, in which
the radiation is concentrated to the area where a lump was
removed. The radiation device is actually a small, soft
balloon attached to a thin catheter and inflated inside the
lumpectomy cavity. Twice a day for five days, a radioactive
seed is placed inside the balloon by an electronic device
connected to the catheter. The seed is removed after about
10 minutes, leaving no radioactive material in the patient's
body between sessions.
After the final dose of radiation, the catheter and deflated
balloon are removed and the incision is covered with a small
bandage. Most women who've had the procedure said they felt
no pain during or after the treatment. These results are
attained with minimal side effects, including occasional
redness, bruising, breast pain, or drainage from the
treatment site.
Surgeon Khalil Wakim, MD, performed the first lumpectomy
followed by MammoSite therapy at Saint John's.
"I have performed a number of mastectomies in the past on
women who were good candidates for lumpectomies," Wakim
said.
Those women, he explains, could not follow up a lumpectomy
with six or seven weeks of recommended radiation. "With the
availability of MammoSite, those patients would be likely to
consider the treatment, which cuts down the radiation time
to one week," he said
.
Radiation Oncologist Darrel Ross, MD, at Saint John's Cancer
Center, agrees that the time frame is a great advantage of
MammoSite therapy.
"With the advancements in mammograms, we're detecting breast
cancer earlier and in younger patients," Ross said. "Having
a MammoSite treatment, which is twice a day for five days,
allows them to accomplish the task and carry on with their
lives."
Studies show good to excellent cosmetic results in 88
percent of MammoSite patients. Aesthetic gains aside, this
outpatient breast-conservation treatment allows patients to
get back to their normal lives sooner while effectively
treating the tissues where cancer is most likely to
resurface. If chemotherapy is prescribed, the patient can
complete radiation therapy before beginning chemo; generally
speaking, chemotherapy is most often prescribed after
external beam radiation is completed.
It is often difficult for post-lumpectomy patients to find
the time away from work and other responsibilities to
schedule and attend appointments for traditional
whole-breast external beam radiation.
As deemed by the physician, MammoSite RTS sometimes is used
as a boost component of treatment.
Restrictions are in place for women who have a larger mass
removed or any cancer spreading to the lymph nodes. They
will need to have external radiation rather than MammoSite
therapy, Dr. Ross explained.
For more information about MammoSite, contact the Saint
John's Cancer Center at 646-8358.
