A new way for radiation therapy
By Azra Shuib | November 13 2019
If you or your loved ones are affected by breast cancer, you might want to consider IORT, or Intraoperative Radiotherapy. This treatment is suitable for all patients undergoing lumpectomy (breast tumor removal)
IORT is an advanced procedure where a single dose radiotherapy is delivered directly to the tissues surrounding the cancer during lumpectomy. The reason this technique can be the best option for you is because it reduces radiation exposure as well as treatment time. It is done simultaneously with lumpectomy, and it only has to be done once, which is a better solution compared to the traditional external radiation therapy which patients have to go through as often as 5 days a week for up to 6 weeks following surgery.
Intrabeam could be the best option for a better life ahead of you. Don't let your disease stop you from living your best life.
Usually, IORT will be delivered as a 30 – 45 minute treatment during surgery. Here is what the procedure would look like:
1. Deliver Intrabeam during surgery - Once the tumor is removed by the surgeon, the Intrabeam Applicator is precisely placed into the excision site.
2. Deliver radiation - A low energy, high dose of radiation is delivered locally to the cancer site, reducing exposure to healthy tissues.
3. End of treatment - After 20 – 30 mins of radiation delivery, the applicator is removed and the incision will be closed by the surgeon and the patient will be sent to recovery room.
There are a lot of advantages in using the Intrabeam Intraoperative Radiotherapy. Apart from the short treatment time, it also targets cancer cells directly, reduces exposure of patients’ healthy tissue to radiation, and is only given as a single dose. There is usually no need for repeated hospital visits for most patients, but some who are found to have a higher risk of recurrence, might still need conventional radiotherapy after they have had Intrabeam therapy.
As with other major surgery, this therapy requires you to follow your doctor’s advice. Carefully caring for yourself after therapy lowers the risks of any complications on wound healing, redness of the skin as well as exhaustion. There is also a side effect of Seroma, or fluid buildup after the tumour was removed. This is treated by either leaving it alone or draining the fluid using a needle If you think IORT is the best treatment for you or your loved ones, Sunway Medical Centre in Selangor, Malaysia is among the best hospitals you can choose.
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