Now available for patients at the Cancer Center at UM Shore Regional Health, accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) treats only the immediate area surrounding the original tumor and minimizes radiation exposure to the rest of the breast, skin, ribs, lungs and heart.
HOW IT WORKS:
■ After undergoing a lumpectomy to remove the tumor, the patient has a CT scan that is used by the radiation oncologist to identify the target.
■ This scan is followed by an outpatient procedure during which few tiny gold markers are placed in
the breast using small needles (the same size as those used for blood draw).
■ After a second CT scan, a treatment plan is generated and, when ready, the patient returns for
five treatments. The gold markers are tracked during each treatment, which allows for treatment of
a smaller volume of healthy breast tissue.
“Along with the more precise targeting of the immediate area surrounding the original tumor, a significant advantage of accelerated partial breast irradiation is that treatment is accomplished in five sessions over five days, as opposed to 15 to 20 sessions over several weeks,” said Rashmi Benda, MD, Medical Director, Requard Radiation Oncology Center. “In addition, patients experience little to no pain, swelling, redness or scarring from the treatment.
To watch a video of Dr. Benda and Rebecca Bartholomew, a patient who completed APBI treatment, visit this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnsl0cCjASI