After being diagnosed with breast cancer, many women will face weeks of radiation therapy. But a new experimental procedure could change that. Tonight, 7's Janet Wu looks at this new way of "Targeting Tumors".
Running her own business keeps Linda Riley of Saugus very busy.
Linda Riley
"Here are those markets we're talking about."
But as a two-time breast cancer survivor, Linda knows her health comes first. So when she needed six weeks of radiation after a lumpectomy, she found a way to fit it into her busy schedule.
Linda Riley
"If you're doing something five days a week you have to make it convenient."
But for some, enduring radiation five days a week, for six weeks - can be emotionally exhausting, as well as physically difficult.
Linda Riley
"There are a lot of people who just can't get a ride to the five treatments."
In fact, many women in remote areas view radiation as a hardship and instead, chose a mastectomy.
But 7News traveled to London to meet the pioneer of an experimental procedure that could avoid such radical choices.
It's called intra-operative radiotherapy. After the tumor is removed, this portable intrabeam system is inserted into the breast. A single, concentrated radiation dose, equal to a six-week treatment, is given to the patient right during surgery.
Dr. Jayant Vaidya, University College London
"In about 25 to 30 minutes, the radiotherapy is delivered."
Since the probe only targets the tumor area, it helps protect the heart, lungs, and bones from unnecessary radiation.
Dr. Jayant Vaidya
"Most recurrence, if it comes back, comes back near the primary tumor. So it appears that we need to treat the area around the primary tumor."
Dr. Vaidya's pilot study was started 4 years ago. So far, the results on all 26 patients have been promising.
Dr. Jayant Vaidya
"We have not had any patients coming back with cancer."
While preliminary results are exciting, some experts caution more studies are needed.
Dr. Simon Powell, Massachusetts General Hospital
"I think with a study that size what you can tell is that it's a safe approach, but it's not a large enough of a sample size to say the treatment is equivalent to conventional treatments."
As for Linda, she says when it comes to cancer treatments, she lives by one golden rule.
Linda Riley
"I had one criteria then, I'd still have that same criteria and that is what is the success rate, that's all I would care about."
Dr. Vaidya and others are working on answering that by launching a larger study. Right now, Massachusetts General Hospital is using intra-operative radiotherapy to treat brain cancer. They are using the same photoelectron device, which incidentally is made by a company in Lexington.
For more information:
Free 7News / ACS Breast Health Kit
http://www.time.com/time/columnist/horowitz/article/0,9565,196872,00.html
http://www.mabcie.com/December_3,_2001.html
http://www.photoelectron.com
