Roper St. Francis Adds MammoSite to Breast Cancer Treatment Program
Recent studies have shown that the number of deaths from leading cancers – including breast cancer – has declined for the first time in 30 years. Advances in diagnostic and treatment capabilities are credited for this decline, according to medical experts.
One of those treatments – called High Dose Rate (HDR) or MammoSite – is being offered at Roper St. Francis Cancer Center in conjunction with an ongoing National Cancer Institute (NCI) study to evaluate the effectiveness of partial breast irradiation compared to conventional whole breast irradiation following lumpectomy for early stage breast cancer. The NCI study will involve some 3,000 patients from across the nation and, for the first time, broadens the criteria to include younger women.
Partial breast irradiation is the practice of delivering radiation only to the tissue immediately surrounding the removed tumor, where cancer is most likely to recur, thereby limiting radiation exposure to healthy tissue. MammoSite is described as “radiation from the inside out.” A balloon catheter is placed in the cavity created by a lumpectomy. After the catheter is implanted, radiation is delivered from a source placed inside the balloon directly to the tissue surrounding the original tumor. The patient is treated twice daily for five days, compared to patients who receive whole breast irradiation, which calls for treatment every day for six weeks. The treatment provides an option for thousands of women with breast cancer, many who are unable to endure a conventional 6-week course of external beam radiation therapy.
Women in the Charleston area who qualify are invited by Roper St. Francis Cancer Center to participate in the study. Eligibility criteria includes:
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Patients must be 18 years or older.
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Patients must have early stage (0, I, or II) breast cancer.
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Surgical treatment of the breast must have been lumpectomy.
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The size of the lump must be 3cm or less.
Those interested in participating in the study should call 843-724-2053 for more information and to pre-qualify. Mammosite is also available to women not participating in the study.
“MammoSite offers not only effective treatment but also provides an opportunity for breast conservation, which has become an accepted option in the treatment of most patients with Stage 1 and 2 breast cancer,” said Mary Decker, MD, Medical Director for Radiation Oncology with Roper St. Francis Healthcare and a board-certified radiation oncologist. “The major advantages of breast conservation therapy are superior cosmetic results and reduced psychological and emotional trauma.”
Roper St. Francis Cancer Center also offers HDR treatments for vaginal cancers and in the near future will offer similar treatments for other cancer diagnoses, such as cervix, prostate and esophageal.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among American women. However, the earlier it’s detected, the easier it is to cure.
Roper St. Francis Healthcare is also pleased to announce new state of the art digital mammography, now available at its Farmfield Mammography Center located West Ashley. This new technology, the most modern mammography equipment available today, offers enhanced quality with clear, highly detailed images of the breast, and increased patient comfort. The American Cancer Society recommends that all women age 40 or older have a mammogram once a year. Roper St. Francis offers mammograms at five convenient locations. To schedule a mammogram, call 843-402-5000.
At Roper St. Francis Cancer Center, patients are offered a comprehensive team approach, including state-of-the-art technology and equipment for diagnosis and treatment, participation in ongoing clinical trials and access to a wide range of cancer-related education and support services. Roper St. Francis Cancer Center was recently awarded the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons’ highest honor – Accreditation with Commendation. The 3-year accreditation is bestowed on only the finest programs in the country with just 25 percent of hospitals in receipt.
For more information on Roper St. Francis Cancer Center, call 843-402-CARE (2273) or visit the website: www.ropersaintfrancis.com.
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