Artemis Feature article New Radiation Therapy Technique Being Tested In a presentation at the annual meeting of the Radiology Association of North America, Dr. Jayant Vaidya of University College London Medical School reported on a new technique for administering radiation to breast cancer patients after they have had breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy). Vaidya's technique-called intra-operative radiotherapy-involves the temporary insertion of a radiation implant into the area where the tumor was removed. The metal implant then provides a single, concentrated dose of radiation from inside the breast that lasts from 21 to 28 minutes. By comparison, traditional radiation therapy involves short, daily doses of radiation for a period of up to six weeks. Preliminary results from a study of 29 women indicate that the technique may be just as effective as the standard six-week regimen of radiation, Vaidya said. The women in the study all underwent lumpectomies for tumors of less than 1 ½ inches. Half of the women got the single dose of radiation and half received standard radiation therapy. So far, after an initial follow-up period of 1 ½ years, all of the women in both groups have remained cancer free, he reported. Vaidya cautioned that the number of participating women was too small to draw definitive conclusions. Furthermore, the follow-up period was still far too short given that most breast cancer recurrences are detected from two to four years after initial treatment has ended. Nonetheless, Vaidya suggested that if intra-operative radiotherapy proves to be comparable to the standard regimen of radiation therapy, it could make lumpectomy a more attractive option for many more women. He noted that as many as three-quarters of women with breast cancer are candidates for lumpectomy, although many opt for mastectomy even when lumpectomy may be clinically equivalent. However, he cautioned that the technique is not indicated for lobular carcinoma, which accounts for up to 15 percent of all breast cancers. SOURCES: Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, November 26, 2001, Chicago, IL Radiological Society of North America Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.