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A Possible Radiation Treatment For Breast Cancer Patients
     
     
 

In Canada , doctors are thoroughly researching a new technique to replace entire or partial breast irradiation in women who have suffered from breast cancer and have undergone breast-preservation surgery. A new technology has been developed that would allow for seed implants to be placed in patients and could eliminate the need for radiation therapy. This, in turn, could cut back on radiation costs and stress to the patient. The use of this alternate method goes along with a study published on January 1, 2006 with the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO). 

For women who are diagnosed during the beginning stages of breast cancer, they are often receiving treatment in a form of lumpectomy in order to remove the cancerous cells. After that begins a series of radiation treatments for about five days a week for eight weeks. Doing such allows for the process to eliminate remaining cancer cells that the surgery might've missed. Doctors are continuing to look for different methods in an effort to lessen these follow up sessions. A few doctors even experimented with radiation implants. The implants are temporary and administer radiation directly into the tissue of the breast with the use of a catheter. With these temporary implants, doctors can deliver radiation to the targeted area twice daily and patients would only receive treatment for one week. 

Even though this is such a groundbreaking study, radiation oncologists are working to determine if permanent implants would prove to be a safe option. Doctors have successfully used the implants in males for the treatments of prostate cancer, thus providing the patients with only one treatment compared to several. About the size of a grain of rice, these implants could deliver radiation to the desired area and remain in place until the radioactivity within them fully diminished. An added benefit is that a patient could only undergo one procedure compared to ten treatments with the temporary implants. 

These current treatments successfully kill and keep the cancerous cells in remission.  Unfortunately, though, 38% of women have suffered from side effects. On the up side, 44 percent have no signs of cancer cells and have significantly less skin irritation than with other radiation methods. 

The main purpose of this entire study was to lessen the suffering caused by other breast cancer treatments. The seed implants allow for doctors to supply radiation once, therefore reducing the amount of radiation and providing the patient with healthy breasts.   

 
       

 

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