Breast Cancer Treatment in One Day

Dec. 7, 2011 - PRLog -- EXETER, NH – Early stage breast cancer treatment historically involves months of appointments, travel, interrupted schedules and an emotional time for patients and their families.  Patients of the Center for Cancer Care at Exeter Hospital with early stage breast cancer who meet specific criteria now have the ability to receive effective cancer treatment in just one day without months of disruption or anxiety in their daily lives.

The Center for Cancer Care at Exeter Hospital is one of a limited number of hospitals around the country to offer Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) for breast cancer, a new treatment option in which radiation treatment can be administered in a single dose at the time of surgery.

Exeter Hospital is the first hospital in New Hampshire to adopt the Xoft Axxent® eBx™ electronic brachytherapy system for IORT, enabling doctors to administer a high dose of radiation to the tumor bed during a lumpectomy. IORT reduces or eliminates the need for follow-up radiation treatments and also minimizes radiation exposure to healthy tissue and organs, such as the ribs, lungs, heart and opposite breast. The current standard of care for early stage breast cancer consists of lumpectomy, medical therapy, and a five to seven week course of daily Whole Breast External Beam Radiation Therapy (WBEBRT) delivered by linear accelerators inside a heavily shielded room. With IORT, a single dose of intraoperative radiation may be as effective in treating the tumor as 10–20 daily radiation doses.  

The Center for Cancer Care also uses the Xoft Axxent eBx System to perform accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI), a form of radiation treatment delivered post-surgery, that allows certain patients to complete an entire course of radiation treatment in just five days.

“This is one of the most exciting new breast cancer treatment options in recent years,” said Diane Palladino, MD, Core Physicians, a breast surgeon at Exeter Hospital. “Patients who meet the criteria for this treatment go from the prospect of a six-week treatment to completing both surgery and radiation treatment in one day and is most cases patients are able return home the same day as surgery.”

“I always knew this new technology had the best potential to deliver radiation in the operating room safely and effectively to the patient,” said Gary Proulx, MD, of the Center for Cancer Care. “Now we have the evidence showing it with the results of medical trials. Patients have as good if not potentially better outcomes with this treatment and I am thrilled to be able to be the first and only cancer program in the region to offer this treatment.”

The Center for Cancer Care at Exeter Hospital has a designated staff member, known as a patient navigator, who acts as both a resource and support person for the patient from the early stage of their diagnosis through treatment and is able to answer questions along the way.

“We offer patients who are diagnosed with breast cancer the option of attending a multidisciplinary clinic at the Center for Cancer Care where they meet with an entire team of medical professionals to discuss their case and options for treatment,” explained Jane Peterson, the director of the Center for Cancer Care. “The clinic includes the patient navigator, a pathologist, radiologist, surgeon, medical oncologist and radiation oncologist who pool their collective expertise in making a recommendation for the patient. The beauty of the clinic for the patient is that they are able to consult with all of the specialists on the same day and walk out with an opinion.”

Most patients are able to return home the same day as their treatment with IORT and resume their normal activities almost immediately.

Nancy, a 78-year-old Seacoast woman, who was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in late September, opted to try the new treatment when she learned she was a good candidate. She went home the same day as her surgery and was amazed at how quickly she recovered from the procedure.

“I felt great almost immediately. I really anticipated being uncomfortable and I really was not,” said Nancy. “It is so nice not to have to make those return trips to the hospital for ongoing radiation treatments.”

The Xoft Axxent eBx System uses a proprietary miniaturized X-ray source instead of a radioactive isotope and is cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The localized approach, administered during surgery at the tumor site, minimizes exposure of healthy tissue to unnecessary radiation and also minimizes radiation exposure to the treatment staff. Because the system relatively small, highly mobile, and does not require a shielded environment, it can be used in a variety of clinical settings. In addition, the patient’s physician can remain in the room with her while she receives the treatment which reduces anxiety and adds to patient comfort.

About Exeter Hospital:

Exeter Hospital is a community-based hospital that serves residents from 38 towns in New Hampshire’s Seacoast Region. The hospital’s mission is to improve the health of the communities it serves. The hospital and its four affiliates - Core Physicians, Rockingham Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice, Synergy Health & Fitness Center and Exeter Healthcare employ 2,400 area residents and annually provide millions of dollars for community benefits. For more information visit: www.exeterhospital.com or call (603) 580-6668.

About iCAD, Inc.:
iCAD, Inc. is an industry-leading provider of advanced image analysis and workflow solutions that enable healthcare professionals to better serve patients by identifying pathologies and pinpointing the most prevalent cancers earlier. iCAD offers a comprehensive range of high-performance, upgradeable Computer-Aided Detection (CAD) systems and workflow solutions for mammography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT).  iCAD recently acquired Xoft, Inc., developer of the Axxent® eBx™ electronic brachytherapy system (eBx). Axxent uses non-radioactive miniaturized X-ray tube technology and is FDA-cleared for treatment of early stage breast cancer, skin cancer and endometrial cancer. The Axxent System is also cleared for use in the treatment of other cancers or conditions where radiation therapy is indicated including Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT).  For more information, call (877) iCADnow or visit www.icadmed.com.

 Vaidya, J., Joseph D, Tobias, D., Bulsara, J., Wenz, M. Targeted intraoperative radiotherapy versus whole breast radiotherapy for breast cancer (TARGIT-A trial): an international, prospective, randomised, non-inferiority phase 3 trial. The Lancet July 2010: Vol. 376, 91-102

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About Exeter Hospital:
Exeter Hospital is a community-based hospital that serves residents from 38 towns in New Hampshire’s Seacoast Region. The hospital’s mission is to improve the health of the communities it serves. For more information visit: exeterhospital.com or call (603) 580-6668.

About iCAD, Inc.:
iCAD, Inc. is an industry-leading provider of advanced image analysis and workflow solutions that enable healthcare professionals to better serve patients by identifying pathologies and pinpointing the most prevalent cancers earlier. Axxent uses non-radioactive miniaturized X-ray tube technology and is FDA-cleared for treatment of early stage breast cancer, skin cancer and endometrial cancer. The Axxent System is also cleared for use in the treatment of other cancers or conditions where radiation therapy is indicated including Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT). For more information, call (877) iCADnow or visit www.icadmed.com.