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Mammosite

For certain breast cancer patients a form of partial breast irradiation, MammoSite, is a treatment option. MammoSite treatment requires the surgical implantation of the MammoSite device, and is offered in conjunction with surgeons from Hamot Medical Center and Saint Vincent Health System.

The MammoSite is an FDA approved balloon catheter that is inserted into the lumpectomy cavity of patients who have had conservation surgery. During each treatment, a computer controlled machine places a small radioactive source inside the balloon enabling the delivery of radiation to the tissue directly surrounding the original tumor site -- the area of the breast where cancer is most likely to recur. When MammoSite is used as the only form of radiation following a lumpectomy, treatments occur twice a day for five days.

MammoSite can also be used as a boost therapy in combination with whole-breast external beam radiation. This therapy combines the MammoSite with external beam radiation to deliver additional radiation directly to the area of the breast where cancer is most likely to recur. In this case, MammoSite therapy is delivered over 1 to 2 days.