Expedited Breast Cancer Treatment - Brachytherapy - Mayo Clinic

Summary

Jane Brandhagen, diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, opted for a novel treatment approach. Instead of traditional mastectomy or lengthy radiation therapy, she underwent a single surgery to insert a brachytherapy catheter, which delivers targeted radiation treatments in just five days. This new method, developed by Dr. Park and Dr. Hyken, reduces the waiting time for surgery and radiation, offering a more convenient and precise treatment option for patients, especially those living far from treatment centers.

Takeaways

• 😨 Jane Brandhagen was diagnosed with breast cancer after a yearly mammogram revealed a small tumor.
• 🏥 Dr. Tina Hyken from Mayo Clinic suggests that the main decision for breast cancer patients is whether to opt for a mastectomy or breast preserving surgery.
• ⏳ Jane was a good candidate for a new treatment option that could reduce her entire treatment to just a matter of days.
• 🔍 For patients with no evidence of disease in the lymph nodes and small tumors, a new outpatient procedure called brachytherapy is available.
• 🌐 The brachytherapy catheter is inserted into the lumpectomy cavity and delivers radiation treatments internally, significantly reducing the time required for treatment.
• 🕒 Standard external radiation therapy typically requires 10 treatments over five weeks, while brachytherapy can be completed in a fraction of that time.
• 🔬 Dr. Park and Dr. Hyken designed a regimen to eliminate waiting time by using a single surgery for immediate identification and treatment of cancer cells.
• 💉 Special dyes are used to identify any cancer cells that may have spread, allowing for immediate screening of lymph nodes and tissue margins.
• 🛠️ Once the all-clear is given, the surgery continues with the insertion of the brachytherapy catheter, followed by radiation treatment planning.
• 🤖 A computer-controlled robotic machine is used for brachytherapy, manipulating a radioactive seed to deliver precise doses of radiation to the target area.
• 🛡️ Brachytherapy is more precise than external radiation, sparing healthy tissue and reducing the impact on the breast, chest wall, lung, and heart tissue.
• 🌟 The expedited brachytherapy option is hoped to encourage more women to complete their recommended post-surgery radiation, especially those living far from treatment centers.

Q & A

What was Jane Brandhagen's initial reaction to her breast cancer diagnosis?

Jane Brandhagen was shocked and terrified upon learning about her breast cancer diagnosis.

What is the main decision breast cancer patients have to make according to Dr. Tina Hyken?

The main decision breast cancer patients have to make is whether to opt for a mastectomy, which removes the entire breast, or breast preserving surgery.

Why was Jane a good candidate for the new treatment option mentioned in the script?

Jane was a good candidate for the new treatment option because her cancer was caught early and she had no evidence of disease in the lymph nodes.

What is brachytherapy and how does it differ from standard external radiation therapy?

Brachytherapy is a method of delivering radiation treatments internally through a catheter placed in the lumpectomy cavity. It differs from standard external radiation therapy as it is completed in a fraction of the time, with treatments delivered over five weekdays in a matter of days instead of weeks.

How long does the standard external radiation therapy typically take to complete?

Standard external radiation therapy usually takes about six weeks, with treatments given twice a day, approximately six hours apart, for a total of 10 treatments.

What innovation did Dr. Park and Dr. Hyken design to reduce the waiting time for brachytherapy?

Dr. Park and Dr. Hyken designed a treatment regimen that eliminates the waiting time by using a single surgery to first identify any cancer cells with special dyes and then immediately insert the brachytherapy catheter if the pathologist gives the all-clear.

How does the brachytherapy procedure work after the catheter is inserted?

After the catheter is inserted, the following day the radiation plan is mapped out during a simulation. The brachytherapy begins the next morning using a computer-controlled robotic machine that manipulates a radioactive seed within the implanted catheter.

What is the advantage of brachytherapy over externally delivered radiation?

Brachytherapy is delivered more precisely to the target area without passing through healthy tissue, which means it spares the breast tissue, chest wall, lung tissue, and importantly, heart tissue for left-sided cancer patients.

How many sessions did Jane complete her brachytherapy in as part of the pilot study?

Jane completed her brachytherapy in just three sessions.

What is the purpose of the expedited brachytherapy option?

The expedited brachytherapy option is hoped to encourage more women to receive the full benefit of their recommended post-surgery radiation, especially those living far from a treatment center.

How long will Jane and other patients in the study be followed to verify their long-term health and survival?

Jane and other patients in the study will be followed for five years to verify that their long-term health and survival is just as good as those receiving standard radiation procedures.