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.

Outlines

00:00

🏥 Innovative Breast Cancer Treatment: Brachytherapy

Jane Brandhagen was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer after a mammogram revealed a small tumor. Faced with the decision of opting for a full mastectomy or breast-preserving surgery, she chose a new treatment option called brachytherapy. This outpatient procedure involves inserting a catheter into the lumpectomy cavity to deliver concentrated radiation treatments over five days, significantly reducing the time compared to standard external radiation therapy, which takes weeks. The new approach eliminates the waiting period by using a single surgery to first identify any cancer cells that may have spread and then immediately implanting the catheter. The following day, a computer-controlled robotic machine delivers the radiation through a radioactive seed within the catheter, targeting the area precisely without affecting healthy tissue. This expedited treatment is hoped to encourage more women to complete their post-surgery radiation, especially those living far from treatment centers.

Keywords

💡Shock

Shock in this context refers to a sudden and intense emotional reaction to an unexpected event. In the video, the term is used to describe Jane Brandhagen's initial response to her breast cancer diagnosis, illustrating the emotional impact of such news.

💡Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the breast tissue. It is the main theme of the video, as it discusses the experiences of Jane Brandhagen, who was diagnosed with this disease, and the treatment options available to her.

💡Mammogram

A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast used to screen for breast diseases, especially cancer. In the script, it is mentioned as the method by which Jane's breast cancer was detected.

💡Tumor

A tumor is a mass of abnormal cell growth that results from uncontrolled cell division. The video discusses the presence of a small tumor in Jane's breast, which was revealed by her mammogram.

💡Mastectomy

Mastectomy is a surgical procedure to remove one or both breasts as a treatment for breast cancer. The script mentions it as one of the main decisions breast cancer patients have to make, along with breast preserving surgery.

💡Brachytherapy

Brachytherapy is a type of radiation therapy where a radioactive source is placed inside or near the area requiring treatment. The video discusses a new option of brachytherapy that reduces the entire treatment to just a matter of days, which is a significant advancement in breast cancer treatment.

💡Lumpectomy

A lumpectomy is a surgical procedure to remove a breast tumor and some of the normal tissue around it. The video explains that Jane's cancer was caught early, making her a good candidate for this procedure, which is part of the new treatment option discussed.

💡Catheter

In medical terms, a catheter is a tube that can be inserted into a body cavity or vessel. The script describes the use of a brachytherapy catheter device that is inserted into the lumpectomy cavity to deliver radiation treatments internally.

💡Outpatient Procedure

An outpatient procedure is a surgical intervention that does not require the patient to stay overnight in the hospital. The video mentions that the brachytherapy treatment is an outpatient procedure, highlighting the convenience and reduced burden on the patient.

💡Robotic Machine

A robotic machine, in the context of the video, refers to a computer-controlled device used in brachytherapy to manipulate a radioactive seed within the catheter. This technology allows for precise delivery of radiation to the target area.

💡Pilot Study

A pilot study is a small-scale preliminary study conducted to evaluate feasibility, time, cost, risk, and effect of new methods or treatment protocols. Jane participated in a pilot study for the expedited brachytherapy option, which is a central focus of the video.

Highlights

Jane Brandhagen was diagnosed with breast cancer after her yearly mammogram revealed a small tumor.

Jane wanted to treat her cancer aggressively and start her treatments as quickly as possible.

Mayo Clinic surgeon Dr. Tina Hyken discussed the main decision breast cancer patients face: mastectomy vs. breast preserving surgery.

Dr. Hyken identified Jane as a good candidate for a new treatment option due to the early detection of her cancer.

The new option could reduce Jane's entire treatment to just a matter of days.

Brachytherapy is introduced as a method to deliver follow-up radiation treatments internally and more quickly than standard external radiation therapy.

Traditionally, patients wait two to four weeks for a second surgery to implant the brachytherapy catheter.

Dr. Park and Dr. Hyken designed a treatment regimen to eliminate waiting time with a single surgery.

Special dyes are used to identify any cancer cells that may have spread, allowing immediate screening of lymph nodes.

Once the all-clear is given, the surgery continues with the insertion of the brachytherapy catheter.

The next day, the radiation plan is mapped out during a simulation, and brachytherapy begins.

A computer-controlled robotic machine is used to manipulate a radioactive seed within the implanted catheter.

Brachytherapy delivers radiation more precisely to the target area without passing through healthy tissue.

The expedited brachytherapy option is aimed at encouraging more women to receive post-surgery radiation, especially those far from treatment centers.

Standard therapy often requires long commutes, which can lead to low completion rates of radiation.

Jane completed her brachytherapy in just three sessions within five days.

Patients in the study, including Jane, will be followed for five years to verify the long-term health and survival outcomes.

The Mayo Clinic News Network reports on the innovative treatment with Dennis Dodeth.

Transcripts

it was a shock you know I was already in

my mind picking out wigs and thinking

how much longer I'd have here I was

terrified

Jane brandhagen was facing the news one

in eight women will hear she had breast

cancer her yearly mammogram had revealed

a small tumor she wanted to treat it

very aggressively and wanted to ramp up

her treatments as quickly as possible

I could have gone with a full-out double

mastectomy and then I would be done mayo

clinic surgeon dr. Tina Hyken says it's

the main decision breast cancer patients

have to make to remove the entire breast

in a mastectomy or have breast

preserving surgery because Jane's cancer

was caught early

dr. Hyken says she was a good candidate

for a new option which would also reduce

her entire treatment to just a matter of

days so for those patients who have no

evidence of disease in the lymph node

and have small tumors that are

completely removed with a lumpectomy

they leave the operating room with the

catheter in place it's an outpatient

procedure so this is a breast model with

the brachytherapy catheter device

inserted into the lumpectomy cavity

called brachytherapy the catheter

delivers the necessary follow-up

radiation treatments internally in a

fraction of the time of standard

external radiation therapy treatments

are deliver over five week days twice a

day approximately six hours apart for

total 10 treatments brachytherapy itself

is not new but patients routinely have

to wait two to four weeks for a second

surgery to implant the catheter because

that can't happen until a pathology

report comes back saying it's okay to

proceed so dr. Park and dr. Hyken

designed a treatment regimen to

eliminate the waiting time by using a

single surgery first special dyes are

injected to identify any cancer cells

that may have spread beyond the tumor

site or to the lymph nodes under the arm

that allows a pathologist to immediately

screen the lymph nodes and a safe margin

of tissue removed from around the tumor

while the patient is still under

anesthesia

once the all-clear is given the surgery

continues with a second incision to

insert the brachytherapy catheter and

expand it filling the lumpectomy cavity

the very next day the

patience radiation plan is mapped out

during a simulation the following

morning the brachytherapy begins using a

computer-controlled robotic machine

which manipulates a single radioactive

seed smaller than a grain of rice

within the implanted catheter the

reductive seed will travel through the

cable and to the patient into the

catheter and stop at different locations

that we program it to for different

amount of time and that shapes the

radiation dose

unlike externally delivered radiation

dr. Park says brachytherapy is delivered

more precisely to the target area

without passing through healthy tissue

meaning the breast tissue the chest wall

lung tissue for left side of cancer

patients importantly to heart tissue

it's hope the expedited brachytherapy

option encourages more women to receive

the full benefit of their recommended

post-surgery radiation

particularly those living far from a

treatment center so with standard

therapy they're driving a couple hundred

miles round-trip each day for three four

six weeks the actual rate of completing

the radiation may be as low as 60 or 70

percent jane says she leapt at the

chance to be part of a pilot study they

completed her brachytherapy in just

three sessions so from Monday to Friday

five days that was surgery and radiation

all in five days which i think is

amazing Jane and other patients in the

study will continue to be followed for

five years to verify that their

long-term health and survival is just as

good as those receiving standard

radiation procedures for the Mayo Clinic

News Network I'm Dennis dodeth