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Breast Cancer Brachytherapy Arizona Breast Cancer Specialists

Breast brachytherapy presentation

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Brachytherapy is a modern way of treating breast cancer at early stages.

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Page 1: Breast brachytherapy presentation

Breast  Cancer  Brachytherapy  Arizona  Breast  Cancer  Specialists  

   

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Brachytherapy,  also  known  as  sealed  source  radiotherapy  or  endocurietherapy,  is  a  form  of  radiotherapy  where  a  radioactive  source  is  placed  inside  or  next  to  the  area  requiring  treatment.  Brachytherapy  is  commonly  used  to  treat  localized  prostate  cancer,  cervical  cancer  and  cancers  of  the  head  and  neck.  

The  preferred  treatment  for  early  stage  breast  cancer  is  surgical  removal  of  the  cancerous  lump  (lumpectomy)  followed  by  radiation  therapy  to  the  breast;  radiation  therapy  following  this  eliminates  the  invisibly  small  deposits  of  cancer  that  can  remain  in  the  breast  after  lumpectomy.    

Radiation  treatments  are  given  to  kill  off  any  possible  remaining  cancer  cells  in  the  breast.  Radiation  is  done  to  help  prevent  a  recurrence,  or  return,  of  breast  cancer  and  can  be  given  with  external  or  internal  radiation.  External  beam  radiation,  also  called  whole-­‐breast  irradiation  (WBI),  treats  the  whole  breast  from  the  outside,  by  aiming  highly  penetrating  x-­‐rays  at  your  tumor  cavity.  

External  beam  radiation  begins  four  to  six  weeks  after  surgery.  Patients  receive  one  treatment  a  day  for  six  to  seven  weeks.  It  is  very  successful  in  preventing  recurrence  of  cancer  in  the  breast,  but  many  women  find  the  long  duration  of  treatment  to  be  burdensome.  

 

Breast  brachytherapy  is  a  5-­‐day  radiation  therapy  alternative  for  women  with  early  stage  breast  cancer.    External  beam  radiation  therapy  is  safe  and  very  effective,  but  can  take  over  six  weeks  of  daily  treatment.    

Breast  brachytherapy,  or  partial  breast  irradiation  (PBI),  has  been  researched  and  tested  by  Dr.  Robert  Kuske  since  1991  as  a  

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treatment  method  after  lumpectomy.  He  has  advanced  the  techniques  and  technology,  and  championed  the  research  bringing  breast  brachytherapy  to  where  it  is  today.  He  has  remained  totally  commited  to  his  patients,  who  let  him  know  in  no  uncertain  terms  that  they  wanted  a  shorter  more  convenient  alternative  with  less  radiation  exposure  to  surrounding  healthy  tissues.  

 

Arizona  Breast  Cancer  Specialists  (ABCs)  is  the  first  clinic  in  the  world  dedicated  to  exclusively  treating  women  with  breast  cancer  with  radiation.  It  is  led  by  Dr.  Robert  Kuske  and  Dr.  Coral  Quiet,  Radiation  Oncologists  who  specialize  in  the  treatment  of  breast  cancer.  Together,  they  have  43  years  of  experience  treating  this  disease.