Mammosite / Brachytherapy / Partial Breast Radiation


Partial Breast Radiation

You have just been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer...

Today, more and more women with early-stage breast cancer are able to treat their cancer effectively and preserve their breasts through an option called breast conservation therapy (BCT). This treatment includes the removal of the cancerous tumor, which is called a lumpectomy. The lumpectomy is generally followed by 7 weeks of whole breast external beam radiation therapy. This combination of surgery and radiation works well to prevent local recurrence of the tumor.


However, some patients find it hard to complete almost two months of radiation therapy. It might be difficult to take time from work or other responsibilities, or treatment centers may be far from home.

A 5-day treatment option for you...

The MammoSite Radiation Therapy System (RTS) is the most widely used method of partial breast radiation that works by delivering radiation from inside the breast directly to the tissue where cancer is most likely to recur. Radiation therapy with MammoSite RTS can be completed in up to 5 days, allowing you to get back to your life. 


 



One treatment option for patients undergoing breast conservation therapy is partial breast irradiation, also known as limited-field radiation therapy. The most widely practiced method of partial breast irradiation is breast brachytherapy.


Brachytherapy treats the breast using a radiation source that is placed inside the body. This has four important advantages:

  1. ■Radiation is delivered from inside the breast directly to the area where cancer is most likely to recur.

  2. ■This limits the amount of radiation to healthy tissue, thereby reducing the potential for side effects.

  3. ■The therapy can be completed in up to 5 days. 1

  4. ■Radiation therapy can be completed before beginning chemotherapy (if prescribed).

Clinical studies of patients treated with breast brachytherapy have demonstrated low local recurrence rates. The most recently published study from the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, cited a local recurrence rate of 1.0% at five-years follow-up. This rate was similar to that seen in a group of patients treated with external beam radiation.1


Methods of Breast Brachytherapy


Breast brachytherapy can be delivered in one of two ways:


Multi-catheter brachytherapy

For many years, brachytherapy has been provided to breast cancer patients by implanting multiple (up to 30) catheters (tubes) in the breast. After placement, a radioactive seed is delivered into each catheter to treat the target area. The seed is delivered into each catheter twice a day (morning session and afternoon session), typically for 5 days. The total treatment time for each session is approximately 20 minutes. When treatment is complete, the catheters are removed from the breast.


Balloon catheter brachytherapy

This is one of the latest advances in the treatment of breast cancer and is currently the most widely practiced method of brachytherapy. 


1Vicini, et al. J Natl Cancer Inst 2003.



One treatment option for patients undergoing breast conservation therapy is partial breast irradiation, also known as limited-field radiation therapy. The most widely practiced method of partial breast irradiation is breast brachytherapy.


Brachytherapy treats the breast using a radiation source that is placed inside the body. This has four important advantages:

  1. ■Radiation is delivered from inside the breast directly to the area where cancer is most likely to recur.

  2. ■This limits the amount of radiation to healthy tissue, thereby reducing the potential for side effects.

  3. ■The therapy can be completed in up to 5 days. 1

  4. ■Radiation therapy can be completed before beginning chemotherapy (if prescribed).

Clinical studies of patients treated with breast brachytherapy have demonstrated low local recurrence rates. The most recently published study from the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, cited a local recurrence rate of 1.0% at five-years follow-up. This rate was similar to that seen in a group of patients treated with external beam radiation.1


Methods of Breast Brachytherapy


Breast brachytherapy can be delivered in one of two ways:


Multi-catheter brachytherapy

For many years, brachytherapy has been provided to breast cancer patients by implanting multiple (up to 30) catheters (tubes) in the breast. After placement, a radioactive seed is delivered into each catheter to treat the target area. The seed is delivered into each catheter twice a day (morning session and afternoon session), typically for 5 days. The total treatment time for each session is approximately 20 minutes. When treatment is complete, the catheters are removed from the breast.


Balloon catheter brachytherapy

This is one of the latest advances in the treatment of breast cancer and is currently the most widely practiced method of brachytherapy. 


1Vicini, et al. J Natl Cancer Inst 2003.



The MammoSite device is a small, soft balloon attached to a thin catheter (tube) that fits inside the lumpectomy cavity (the space left after the tumor is removed). A tiny radioactive source (seed) is placed within the balloon by a computer-controlled machine.


Because the source is inside the balloon, radiation is delivered to the area of your breast where cancer is most likely to recur. When used as primary therapy - the only form of radiation following a lumpectomy - you would receive treatments twice a day for up to 5 days.


If your doctor feels that whole-breast external beam radiation is more appropriate for you, MammoSite Radiation Therapy System (RTS) may be used as boost therapy. This therapy combines MammoSite RTS with external beam radiation to deliver additional radiation directly to the area of the breast where cancer is most likely to recur. In this case, MammoSite RTS therapy is delivered over 1 to 2 days.

 

VIDEO DEMO of the MAMMOSITE PROCEDURE


View a demonstration of this procedure.

 


  1. •Treatment with the MammoSite Radiation Therapy System (RTS) can be completed in 1 to 5 days.

  2. •MammoSite RTS places the radiation source inside the lumpectomy cavity (the space left when a tumor is removed). This delivers radiation to the area where cancer is most likely to recur.1

  3. •MammoSite RTS delivers a high dose of radiation to the area most at risk for recurrence and limits the radiation dose to the surrounding normal breast and adjacent tissues, potentially minimizing side effects and improving cosmesis.

  4. •The therapy is given on an outpatient basis. No hospital stay is required.

  5. •A clinical study has shown cosmetic results to be good/excellent in 88% of patients.2

  6. •Patient satisfaction has been overwhelmingly positive.3

1. Edmundson, et al. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, 2002. 2. Keisch, et al. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, 2003. 3. Data on file, Cytyc Corporation.

 



How can MammoSite Radiation Therapy System (RTS) help in breast cancer treatment?

The use of partial breast irradiation to provide radiation following lumpectomy is growing rapidly. The MammoSite RTS is a simple means of providing the prescribed radiation, with minimal side effects and good to excellent cosmetic results. 1


Am I an appropriate candidate for treatment with MammoSite RTS?

MammoSite RTS is intended to provide brachytherapy following a lumpectomy. Physicians generally recommend MammoSite RTS for appropriate early-stage breast cancer patients. Your doctor will need to determine if MammoSite RTS may be right for you.


What are the side effects of this type of treatment?

MammoSite RTS has been carefully tested in clinical trials. Following treatment, the most frequently occuring side effects were redness, bruising, and breast pain. These did not occur in all patients. All of these are common side effects of breast surgery and/or radiation therapy and usually last for only a short time. You may also have some drainage from the insertion site, which is normal and will decrease over time.


Are there any risks in exposing family members to radiation while the MammoSite device is implanted?

No source of radiation remains in your body between treatments or after the final treatment is over. The tiny radioactive source is inserted only during appointments and is then removed. The balloon itself and the liquid inside are not radioactive in any way.


Will this treatment limit my ability to receive other types of treatments in the future?

The MammoSite device delivers radiation therapy from the inside, placing the radiation close to the tissue that is at highest risk for tumor recurrence. Many factors will influence whether additional therapy is possible, but therapy with MammoSite RTS may not exclude the use of additional future radiation. Other treatments, such as chemotherapy and hormonal therapy, may also be prescribed.


How long will the device stay in the breast? How long does the radiation treatment last?

The catheter will typically be in your breast for 7 to 10 days. Radiation therapy with MammoSite RTS usually will last no more than 5 days.


Are there any special requirements for care of MammoSite catheter during treatment?

Your doctor will provide instructions on caring for your MammoSite catheter during the course of therapy.


Will health insurance cover the cost of the procedure?

Radiation therapy with internal radiation is an accepted treatment for breast cancer and is covered by most insurers. Specific coverage for  MammoSite RTS will depend on your individual health plan.

 

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