Clinical Trail Radioactive Seeds

My surgeon has recommended this study however I can find very little info on it.  What I have read is it is not recommended for people under 50 ( I am 48) and not recommended for aggressive DCIS (mine is nuclear grade 3).  I therefore question if I should participate in this study.  Any thoughts, and much thanks

[SueYoung55]

I feel like you are leaving out information here about the clinical trial.

Mammosite is a radiation treatment where they insert a prophyllactic device which looks to me like a penis pump  into the breast surgically and then every day for five straight days you would go into the radiologists office TWICE a day. They would insert the radioactive beads into the device and you would get internal radiation to the affected area instead of to all the areas in front of and behind the affected area. You would also be radioactive for a few hours after each treatment. After the five days, they would remove the device surgically.

Is this what you're posting about? If not, please give more info.

Best wishes. :)

[lmr1963]

Thank-you for your response  I wish I knew more info.  I have yet to see the radiologist.  It was my surgeon who thought the study might be an option.  Its only being tested at a few sites as far as I know and not routinely used.  I'll post again once I learn more.
Thanks again

[zouzi]

Hi,
I believe that what you are searching for is a Radiation therapy called BRACHYTHERAPY (mammosite), it is a local Radiation... it will not affect your lungs or heart, however, all Radiation treatments could affect the immune system. Check Google (Robert Kuske MD) radiologist oncologist ,it explains all about it.
You can also have more information by clicking the link below.

http://breastcancer.about.com/od/radiationtherapy/a/brachytherapy-methods.htm

I hope this helps
Best wishes...

[bluebutterfly2222]

Breast cancer radiation using "seeds" once or twice per day, generally for 5 days, is known as breast cancer radiation catheters,  partial breast radiation, and brachytherapy. (One brand name associated with this is called Mammosite.)

I am providing links to the Mammosite Web site, which gives guidelines regarding what patients may be suitable for this procedure, and also a link to find doctors/centers around the country where the BC radiation catheters procedure is available, as well as detailed information about it:

http://www.mammosite.com/

http://doctorfinders.com/breast-radiation-catheters.php

There is also a new procedure where one dose of radiation is introduced during lumpectomy surgery.

Since you mentioned clinical trials, the study your doctor is recommending may involve
yet another radiation procedure that is being investigated.

Although these (relatively) new procedures are more convenient, I have seen medical articles questing whether there is adequate evidence yet proving that they are as effective as traditional radiation treatments.

Also,  if doctors  are on the staff of a facility chosen to be one the centers involved in a clinical trial, they are highly motivated to recruit enough patients to complete their research study...

I would that suggest you discuss this further with your doctor, and request a specific citation where you can review all the details, including risks, and  the criteria for acceptance into the clinical trial that he is recommending,  as well as asking him to explain why he thinks this would have  value in your specific case.

Best wishes...