What is considered the standard treatment for early-stage breast cancer?
Today, early-stage breast cancer can often be treated without mastectomy, using conservative surgery and radiation therapy called breast conservation therapy or BCT.
This type of therapy begins with the surgical removal of the tumor, followed by 7 weeks of external beam radiation therapy. During treatment, radiation is directed at the whole breast. This combination of surgery and radiation works well to fight breast cancer.
Are there other options besides BCT for treating breast cancer?
Although BCT works well to fight breast cancer, some women aren’t comfortable with this type of treatment.
For women meeting certain criteria, internal treatment radiation called MammoSite® is now an option for treating breast cancer. This treatment only takes 5 days to complete.
What is MammoSite®?
MammoSite is a form of partial breast irradiation. MammoSite is a small, soft balloon attached to a thin catheter that is placed inside the tumor cavity during surgical removal of the tumor.
During treatment, a radioactive seed is placed inside the balloon, delivering radiation only to the areas of the breast where cancer is most likely to recur. Patients receive treatments twice a day for 5 days.
Your doctor can help you determine what therapy is best for you.
One in eight women develop breast cancer. Early detection could save your life. It is important to do monthly self-breast exams as well as routine mammograms for women over the age of 40.
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