DRAMATICALLY REDUCED TREATMENT TIME WITH LESS RADIATION EXPOSURE
Memorial Healthcare and its expert team of cancer surgeons and radiation oncologists are using the latest in radiation seed implant technology on women who undergo certain types of lumpectomy surgery for breast surgery.
Nathan Tomita, D.O., M.P.H., is one of only two surgeons in mid-Michigan who has adopted this highly-advanced technology. He performed his first Brachytherapy breast seed implant at Memorial in November 2008 on a Stage 1 breast cancer patient from Corunna. Dr. Tomita says, “It’s exciting to bring new techniques, such as breast Brachytherapy, to Shiawassee County which means I can offer multiple surgical options and more than just one radiation treatment option.”
This breast Brachytherapy seed implant radiation treatment significantly reduces a woman’s radiation course from six or seven weeks to just five days. Another benefit of this treatment is the radiation dose is directed to a specific area; therefore, the entire breast is not exposed to high doses of radiation.
How does it work?
The procedure involves the implanting of a saline-filled balloon (the Contura™ Multi-Lumen Balloon Brachytherapy implant) into the lumpectomy cavity. The balloon remains in place for the five days of treatment. Each day seeds are inserted for a few minutes per treatment session, according to an individual’s plan of care, and then are removed until the next treatment. There are five separate channels in the balloon into which the seeds can be inserted. These channels allow the radiation to be contoured to reach the tumor area.
Who is eligible?
Patients who experience the greatest success with the treatment usually have early stage breast cancer with a low risk of multi-centric disease – cancer that develops in different quadrants of the breast simultaneously – and localized ductal carcinomas. Most potential candidates have small tumors, measuring less than 3 cm, tumors with negative margins surrounding them and unaffected or minimally affected lymph nodes.
For additional information, you may contact Dr. Tomita’s office at (989) 723-3168.