The Cancer Center of Paoli Hospital now offers MammoSite Radiation Therapy System^TM (RTS), to deliver brachytherapy following a lumpectomy. While traditional radiation treatment after a lumpectomy radiates the entire breast and can take as long as seven weeks, brachytherapy radiation treatment can be completed in as little as five days by delivering a higher dose of radiation directly to the tumor site.

Approved by the FDA in 2002, MammoSite brachytherapy is a form of partial breast irradiation. It is approved for select patients with early stage breast cancer where:

• The primary tumor has been completely removed during surgery
  
• The surgical cavity is deep enough in the breast to prevent skin damage when the radioactive source is
  placed in the breast

How does it work?

At the time of lumpectomy, or in a separate ultrasound guided procedure, a specialized catheter with a balloontipped end is inserted into the area of the breast where the tumor was located. The balloon is then filled with saline and inflated until it fills the lumpectomy cavity. Later a CT Scan is performed to verify the catheter placement and plan the radiation treatment. A radioactive pellet is inserted into the catheter during treatment and removed at the end of each treatment session. The radiation treatments are delivered twice a day for five days. After the last session, the balloonis deflated and the catheter removed

Possible Side Effects

The most common side effects after treatment include redness, bruising, and breast pain. All of these are common side effects of breast surgery and/or radiation therapy and typically last for only a short time. In addition, some patients experience drainage from the insertion site, which is normal and decreases over time.

The Benefits

• Treatment can be completed in 1 to 5 days allowing a rapid return to everyday routines.
  
• Radiation is delivered from inside the breast directly to the area where cancer is most likely to recur.
  
• MammoSite limits the radiation dose to the surrounding normal breast tissue as well as the heart, lung and skin,
  potentially minimizing side effects.
  
• Radiation can begin as soon as one week after surgery. With traditional radiation, treatment cannot begin until
  the surgical site has completely healed, which can take two-to-six weeks.

For additional information on MammoSite RTS, please contact The Cancer Center of Paoli Hospital at 610-648-1600.