MONDAY, Oct. 17, 2005 (HealthDay News) -- A new one-week accelerated radiation treatment for breast cancer is showing promising results, researchers report.
The radiation technique, called accelerated partial breast irradiation with MammoSite balloon brachytherapy, "is an excellent option for women with early breast tumors, especially those who are unable to have the standard six-week course of radiation, due to time constraints," study author Dr. Martin Keisch, a radiation oncologist at Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami Beach, Fla., said in a prepared statement.
He believes "there are 100,000 women per year in (the United States) alone that could benefit from this treatment."
The results of the preliminary study were presented Monday at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology annual meeting in Denver.
With MammoSite brachytherapy, a small balloon is inserted into the area where a breast tumor has just been removed. The balloon is then attached to a catheter, which delivers high doses of radiation to the site where the tumor was located.
Brachytherapy is one of several kinds of accelerated partial breast irradiation designed to treat only the tumor area and not the entire breast.
The four-year results of the 10-year study of 43 breast cancer patients suggest that accelerated partial breast irradiation using brachytherapy makes it more convenient for patients to receive radiation treatment after surgery. The preliminary results also indicate that MammoSite brachytherapy appears to be safe, offers good cosmetic results and helps prevent cancer recurrence.
More information
The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about breast cancer treatments.
