About Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
Breast cancer is the leading cancer in women. An estimated one in eight women will develop breast cancer during her lifetime.
Today, more and more women who have cancerous breast tumors are looking for options to preserve their breast while treating the cancer. For many women with early-stage breast cancer, breast conservation therapy--in the form of a lumpectomy (surgery to remove the tumor) and follow-up radiation treatment--is one of these options.
Traditional radiation therapy typically requires six to seven weeks of full-breast radiation. MammoSite radiation therapy is an alternative to traditional radiation therapy, delivering targeted therapy in a shorter time period.
About MammoSite Radiation Therapy System
The MammoSite® Radiation Therapy System (RTS) delivers radiation directly to the tissue surrounding the original tumor while minimizing radiation exposure to healthy surrounding tissue. This treatment is given after lumpectomy, and its course of one to five days reduces the time and travel burdens often associated with conventional radiation therapy. Additionally, chemotherapy can begin sooner, after only one week of MammoSite treatment, instead of the after the traditional six weeks of whole-breast radiation therapy. MammoSite also has greater cosmetic benefits, with only a small wound on the side of the breast.
How MammoSite Works
The MammoSite device is comprised of a balloon catheter that internally administers the prescribed dose of radiation. By internally delivering radiation directly to the site, this treatment minimizes exposure to the rest of the breast, skin, ribs, lungs and heart.
Figure 1: During the lumpectomy procedure or shortly thereafter, the deflated MammoSite balloon is placed inside the tumor cavity. The applicator shaft, a tube connected to the balloon, remains outside the breast. |
Figure 2: Once in place, the balloon is inflated with saline to fill the cavity and remains inflated for the entire time the patient is receiving radiation therapy. After the balloon is inflated, the catheter exit site is dressed and the patient may go home. Typically, this is done on a Thursday. |
Figure 3: The patient returns for one to five days of treatment (typically the following Monday through Thursday) on an outpatient basis, where a radioactive "seed" is inserted into the inflated balloon. The "seed" delivers the prescribed dose of internal radiation directly to the site where recurrence is most likely to recur. Usually, this procedure is done twice a day for 15 minutes each session. |
Figure 4: No source of radiation stays in the body between treatments or after the final procedure. When the course of treatment is complete, the balloon catheter is deflated and removed. |
Who is Eligible for MammoSite Therapy
Your doctor will determine if you are a good candidate for MammoSite. Generally, patients who receive MammoSite treatment at Martin Memorial have:
- Have a small tumor size (two centimeters or less)
- Have lymph nodes negative for cancer
- Do not have lobular breast cancer
- Have at least two-millimeter margins of tissue around the tumor site
- Have at least 10 millimeters of tissue between the MammoSite catheter and the skin
Approximately 30 to 40 percent of women are eligible for this procedure. To find out if you are eligible for MammoSite, talk to your surgeon.
Martin Memorial Doctors Who Perform the MammoSite Procedure
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Gary K. Griffis, MD
Radiation Oncologist
Martin Memorial Cancer Center
501 E. Osceola St.
Stuart, FL 34994
(772) 288-5890 |
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Kiran A. Reddy, MD
Radiation Oncologist
Martin Memorial Cancer Center
501 E. Osceola St.
Stuart, FL 34994
(772) 288-5890
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James J. Vopal, DDS, MD
Surgeon
801 E. Osceola St.
Stuart, FL 34994
(772) 220-4050 |
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Surgeon
801 E. Osceola St.
Stuart, FL 34994
(772) 220-4050 |
Contact Us
Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center
501 E. Osceola St.
Stuart, FL 34994
(772) 288-5858
History of MammoSite
- MammoSite is a type of brachytherapy (a term for delivering radiation internally), and it has been studied since the early 1970s, when it was used for the first time in patients with prostate cancer.
- Brachytherapy for breast cancer was first performed in 1991, and the first MammoSite Radiation Therapy System patient was treated in a clinical trail in May 2000.
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared MammoSite for use in May 2002, the same month the first patient celebrated two years without a recurrence of cancer.
- As of August 2003, hundreds of U.S. centers offer MammoSite, thousands of patients have been treated, and more than 500 patients are enrolled in the MammoSite Patient Registry, which tracks the success rate of the treatment.
- The Journal of the National Cancer Institute published a study in August 2003 that finds partial breast irradiation (MammoSite) produces comparable results to whole-breast radiation therapy over five years in preventing cancer recurrence.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why was the MammoSite RTS developed?
Although breast conservation therapy allows a woman to save her breast, up to 40 percent of patients with early stage breast cancer still choose to have a mastectomy, despite comparable long-term recurrence and survival rates. The MammoSite RTS could make it easier for more women to consider the choice of lumpectomy and provides physicians with an important new tool for the practice of breast conservation therapy.
Is the MammoSite RTS similar to conventional brachytherapy?
The MammoSite RTS is a device that delivers brachytherapy, a term applied to the process of delivering radiation from within. Conventional brachytherapy has not been widely accepted by physicians and patients because of its invasiveness and complexity. Conventional brachytherapy requires the use of 14 to 20 catheters and is complex for the physician to perform. In contrast, MammoSite RTS enables treatment to be delivered with a single balloon catheter, and the procedure is relatively quick and simple to perform.
Does treatment with MammoSite RTS cause side effects?
MammoSite RTS has been carefully tested in a clinical trial. Following the treatment, study participants experienced breast-related side effects, such as but not limited to redness, bruising and breast pain. All of these are common side effects of breast surgery and/or radiation therapy, and are usually only temporary. |
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What is breast conservation therapy?
Breast conservation therapy is a method used for women to preserve their breast while treating cancer. For many women with early-stage breast cancer, breast conservation therapy--in the form of a lumpectomy and follow-up radiation treatment--is one of these options. In fact, of approximately 250,000 women who develop breast cancer each year, more than one-third are able to undergo lumpectomy and radiation to treat their tumors.
Why do so many women choose to have a mastectomy when breast conservation therapy is an option?
There are many different answers to this question, and it depends on the patient and the patient’s physician. Physical, emotional and practical considerations, as well as a physician’s clinical preference, may all influence a patient’s decision.
Is internally administered radiation therapy effective?
Studies, including a recent article published in the April 2001 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, have found that accelerated treatment of breast cancer using localized radiation therapy through conventional brachytherapy demonstrates low local recurrence rates.
Is treatment with the MammoSite RTS covered by health insurance?
Radiation therapy with internal radiation is covered by most insurers. Specific coverage for the MammoSite RTS will depend on a patient’s individual health care plan.
For more information, visit www.mammosite.com. |