MammoSite® 5-day Targeted Radiation Therapy is an advanced high-dose partial breast irradiation method for breast cancer treatment. Commonly, MammoSite is used following lumpectomy as a breast conservation strategy. For some women, it is an alternative to mastectomy (removal of the entire breast.) MammoSite targets the area where cancer recurrence is most likely to develop. Because it is specifically targeted, minimal radiation is delivered to other surrounding healthy tissues. It is especially appropriate for early stage breast cancers. With MammoSite, the duration of treatment is shortened from several weeks to just 5 days -- without compromising the outcome.
After cancerous tissues are surgically removed, radiation therapy may be used to help keep the cancer from coming back. Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation beams to destroy cancer cells. Radiation disrupts the growth of cancer cells. Radiated cancer cells are not able to repair themselves or replicate, which helps to keep the cancer from coming back.
Radiation damages all cells, both healthy and cancerous, in the exposed area. MammoSite spares as many healthy cells as possible because it directs a high-dose of radiation to only a specific area surrounding the lumpectomy cavity. MammoSite following lumpectomy is a breast conservation strategy. For some women, it is an alternative to mastectomy (removal of the entire breast.)
MammoSite is a type of targeted radiation therapy, also referred to as brachytherapy. Targeted radiation therapy delivers a high-dose of radiation from inside of the body. Tiny sources of radiation called “seeds” are placed in the body and removed after a short period of time.
MammoSite is an outpatient procedure. The radiation is delivered two times a day for five days. Traditional radiation methods usually take six to seven weeks to complete. Most women experience little or no discomfort during the treatment or when the catheter is removed. MammoSite appears to be well tolerated and is associated with short-term mild side effects.