MammoSite

The first technique developed to treat only the involved part of the breast (partial breast radiotherapy) is interstitial brachytherapy, or the implanting of the source of the radiation in the tissue and surrounding the tumor bed.  Because the radiation is targeted, it can be given in a much higher dose and requires just five days of treatment as compared to 6 ½ weeks for whole breast radiotherapy. While treatment time is accelerated, this procedure requires patients to have several catheters in the breast throughout the five days, carries a risk of infection and is somewhat uncomfortable.

Another type of accelerated breast radiotherapy requires the placement of a balloon inside the tumor bed.  The balloon is inflated to fill the lumpectomy cavity and a high-dose radiation source or seed is positioned in the center of the balloon. Like its predecessor, this technique requires just five days of outpatient treatment, but it still requires the patient going home between treatments with a catheter in her breast.

Benefits of MammoSite

• extremely precise – 3mm or less
• reduces involvement to surrounding tissue and organs
• five-day treatment period (two treatments per day)
• outpatient procedure
• non-invasive
• excellent outcomes

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