Electron Intraoperative Radiation Therapy e-IORT Can Reduce Six-Week Radiation Cycles to One Day
JUPITER, Fla. (November 4, 2014) – Jupiter Medical Center announced today that it has implemented an electron beam IntraOperative Radiation Therapy (e-IORT) breast radiation therapy into its world-class Comprehensive Breast Care Program in an effort to minimize treatment time without sacrificing care levels.
The Liac 12 is an electron beam IORT mobile linear accelerator that delivers a single fraction of radiation to a tumor bed during surgery. e-IORT can offer specialized treatment for cancer patients, particularly women with breast cancer, enabling physicians to deliver a single dose of radiation to patients during their surgery. By delivering this radiation at the same time the cancerous tissue is removed, six weeks of post-operative radiation can be reduced to one day of treatment in some cases.
“We understand how important our patients are not only to their loved ones, but also to this community as a whole,” said John A.P. Rimmer, MD, Medical Director, Jupiter Medical Center’s Kristin Hoke Breast Health Program. “Being able to get state-of-the-art care close to home means that the women we treat get back to their healthy, productive lives much faster, without compromising any quality whatsoever.”
There are many benefits of e-IORT for breast cancer patients, such as compressed treatment time, reduced radiation exposure, and a faster return to a normal quality of life. e-IORT allows radiation and surgical oncologists to see the exact area they need to radiate and immediately deliver a therapeutic dose to the affected area, sparing surrounding healthy tissue.
While the e-IORT will be used initially for breast cancer, Jupiter Medical Center plans to leverage the technology for other gynecological cancers such as uterine, cervical and ovarian. In addition, colorectal, lung and gastrointestinal (e.g., esophagus, gastric, pancreatic and liver) cancer patients will also be candidates for the technology.
“Not only does this reduce the time of radiation treatment from six or seven weeks, it protects the body from unnecessary radiation to healthy tissue,” stated Anthony E. Addesa, MD, Medical Director of Radiation Oncology at Jupiter Medical Center’s Ella Milbank Foshay Cancer Center. “In addition to the clear health benefits of this cutting-edge treatment, it also means no skin changes, no fibrosis, no scarring, and no hardening of the skin or other tissues. At the end of the day, it translates into excellent outcomes for our patients and our community as a whole.”
For some women, one dose will be all that’s needed. For others, this will cut the required course of radiation treatment in half. Breast cancer patients who are currently eligible for the one-day treatment protocol include women more than 60 years of age, with tumors less than two centimeters in size, are estrogen receptor positive, and their lymph nodes are negative for cancer spread.
The Comprehensive Breast Care Program at Jupiter Medical Center was the first in Palm Beach and Martin Counties to receive the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers designation.
About Jupiter Medical Center
A not-for-profit 283-bed regional medical center consisting of 163 private acute care hospital beds and 120 long-term care, sub-acute rehabilitation and Hospice beds, Jupiter Medical Center provides a broad range of services with specialty concentrations in oncology, imaging, orthopedics & spine, digestive health, emergency services, lung & thoracic, women’s health, weight management and men’s health. Founded in 1979, the Medical Center has approximately 1,500 team members, 575 physicians and 640 volunteers. For more information on Jupiter Medical Center, please call (561) 263-2234 or visit www.jupitermed.com.
Barbara Jacoby is an award winning blogger that has contributed her writings to multiple online publications that have touched readers worldwide.