MammoSite Brachytherapy
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| An inflatable balloon is placed in the lumpectomy cavity at surgery and can then be used to deliver high doses of radiation directly to the area where cancer is most likely to recur, attacking cancer "from the inside out." |
MammoSite is a leading-edge treatment available at MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland and is specifically for women who have been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. It uses a device that is placed inside the breast where it delivers high doses of radiation to the area where cancer is most likely to recur.
The difference with MammoSite is that it can attack the lumpectomy cavity from the inside out, where typically it is treated from the outside in.
This new treatment option offers many significant advantages for women who qualify:
Traditional radiation therapy requires 6 weeks of treatment, where MammoSite can be completed in 5 days.
The radiation is delivered from within the breast, limiting the amount of radiation to healthy tissue and reducing possible side affects.
As with traditional therapy, it is given on an outpatient basis.
The Greek word for short distance is "brachy," leading to the technical description of MammoSite as a form of brachytherapy.
Additional information about MidMichigan's program and links to help patients find a physician are available on the Breast Health Page. In addition, MidMichigan's Breast Health Nurse is available as a resource to women and their physicians who are seeking more information regarding treatment options such as MammoSite brachytherapy.
MammoSite is a registered trademark of Cyctc Corporation, who provides patient and professional information about the therapy at www.mammosite.com.
The MidMichigan Difference
The Center for Women’s Health at MidMichigan Medical Center–Midland has been designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology (ACR). MidMichigan is also one of the only programs in the region to be accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers.
