In the United States, one in eight women will suffer from breast cancer during her lifetime according to BreastCancer.org. However, with advances in research, incidence rates and death rates have gradually decreased since 1991; but breast cancer is still the leading cause of cancer-related deaths to women in the U. S. with roughly 1 percent of the diagnosed breast cancer cases occurring in men. The Susan G. Komen Foundation has done a remarkable job at raising awareness and funds to find a cure for this destructive disease.
MammoSite
Since 2002 MammoSite internal radiation treatments have become an ideal treatment option for some candidates. MammoSite requires a balloon to be inserted at the site of tumor removal. The balloon is filled with saline in order to ensure that the balloon fits tightly. Attached to the balloon is a small catheter that extends outside of the body for easy access during radiation treatment. Your physician will determine the amount of radiation that is necessary for proper treatment. During each treatment twice a day for five days, the catheter is connected to a High Dose Rate machine that delivers the radiation "seed" to the balloon. Typically each session lasts thirty to sixty minutes, and the radiation is removed after each session. The balloon and catheter are removed after the final session.
Typical side effects include reddening of the skin, breast pain, and bruising. All of these side effects usually go away shortly after treatment. Cancers smaller than 3 cm that have not invaded the lymph nodes are good candidates for this treatment; however, there are various aspects of patient medical history and location that may prevent this treatment from being prescribed.
Brachytherapy
Brachytherapy has been highly used to treat localized cancers since the early 1990s. The Mayo Clinic describes this radiation treatment as a short-term localized treatment where your oncologist inserts a high dose radioactive pellet where a tumor was removed or next to a cancerous tumor that is removed at the end of a session. In the case of low-dose brachytherapy, the pellet may remain permanently in the body or removed at some point later in time. The radioactive pellet naturally degrades over time and is highly effective at preventing tumor regrowth. You will likely be required to stay in the hospital for a longer period of time during low-dose brachytherapy. Mayoclinic.com warns that tenderness and swelling are common side effects to this radiation treatment.
Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation
Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation -- PBI, is still in Phase III clinical trials. Currently, researchers are investigating whether partial external breast irradiation is as effective at preventing cancer reoccurrence as whole breast irradiation. Since whole breast irradiation typically lasts six weeks, the patient is exposed to harsh radiation that can cause the entire breast to blister and burn which threatens severe infection and pain. Fortunately, accelerated PBI typically lasts one to five days and is only applied to the cancerous area of the breasts. The smaller exposed area PBI effects minimizes pain and the risks associated with open wounds. Only select areas that are participating in the clinical trials are able to provide this five-day radiation option.
