For most women with early stage cancer, successful breast conservation involves surgery called a lumpectomy, followed by five to seven weeks beam radiation therapy. Unfortunately, there are still women who choose removal of the breast or lumpectomy without the necessary radiotherapy, because they live too far away from radiation treatment facility.

Surgeons and oncologists at Norris Cotton Cancer Center wanted to offer women in our region a different choice - and the ability to make treatment decisions based on desired outcome, not on travel time and expense. They now offer "accelerated partial breast irradiation" using the MammoSite® radiation therapy system. MammoSite makes it easier for women to choose breast conservation therapy because it reduces radiation treatment from seven weeks to a matter of five days.

MammoSite was approved by the FDA in May 2002, and Norris Cotton Cancer Center is one of a few, select facilities in New England to offer it. It is a unique form of brachytherapy that uses a balloon catheter to deliver radiation internally - directly to the site of the tumor, where the likelihood of recurrence is greatest.

"It’s an outpatient procedure and largely free from the typical side effects of external beam irradiation like skin irritation and fatigue," says radiation oncologist, Kelly Underhill, MD. "And because of the shortened treatment time, it’s a breakthrough for patients who live long distances from the Cancer Center."