Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is proud to offer our patients MammoSite.
Partial breast irradiation using the MammoSite Radiation Therapy System is a simpler, less invasive method of delivering breast brachytherapy, a site-specific radiation treatment completed in four to five days, as compared to seven weeks for traditional external beam radiation therapy. The new device delivers radiation directly to the area where a breast tumor has been surgically removed via lumpectomy, which is the site where tumors are most likely to recur. With its site-specific approach, MammoSite avoids external beam therapy side effects, such as the irradiation of healthy tissue. MammoSite is one way that doctors are working to shorten the amount of time it takes to deliver the radiation and reduce the amount of healthy tissue exposed to radiation.
MammoSite consists of a balloon catheter that is inserted into the area of the breast where the tumor was removed. Once inserted, the balloon is expanded and radiation is delivered through a tiny bead attached to a wire, irradiating the area surrounding the cavity. After the treatment is finished, the balloon is removed. This means the radiation is delivered directly to the area where a breast tumor has been removed, where tumors are most likely to recur.
Patients must meet certain conditions to qualify to use MammoSite as a treatment. Cancer researchers learn more everyday about better ways to use newly developed treatments in a way to best fight cancer. MammoSite is not ideal for everyone diagnosed with breast cancer; there are some patients that will not respond as effectively to this new type of radiotherapy. The key is talking to your doctor about the best treatments available for you.