Radiation Therapy for 5 Days or 40 Days. . . .
Which would you choose?

Breast cancer patients often face six to eight weeks of daily external radiation therapy. But new high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy is reducing that time to as little as five days for many St. Anthony patients with early stage breast cancer.

Clinton Medbery, MD, radiation oncologist at St. Anthony, sees breast brachytherapy as an exciting option for breast cancer patients.

"I am more excited about this than anything in years," Dr. Medbery said. "With traditional radiation treatments, women had to plan for seven weeks of treatment which is hard on anyone, but especially for women who work or live in rural areas. The one week treatment time with breast brachytherapy makes it easier for many women."

The shorter radiation therapy time also means that if chemotherapy is required, it can begin sooner - and that can mean a better shot at beating breast cancer for good.

HDR breast brachytherapy can be administered in two ways, both of which require only an outpatient surgical procedure. The first type involves inserting catheters (plastic tubes) in the breast to the area of the tumor. During treatment, a tiny radioactive seed is inserted in the catheters and the appropriate level of radiation is administered. The treatment only takes a few minutes and is given twice a day for five days. Patients can return to normal daily activities after every treatment. Once the breast brachytherapy is completed, the catheters are removed. St. Anthony is the only hospital in Oklahoma City offering this type of breast brachytherapy.

A second option is mammosite breast brachytherapy. A balloon device is inflated and inserted in the woman's breast. Radiation treatments are then administered via the balloon. Mammosite breast brachytherapy is considered to be investigational and is available on a limited basis.

Call us to learn more: 405.231.8866.