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Women's Health
Redefining the Future of Breast Cancer Treatment: One Day Targeted Radiation Treatment Offers Patients Significant Advantages
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Jan 29, 2015 - 2:19:53 PM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - Staten Island, NY January 29, 2015 Early-stage breast cancer patients who are candidates for intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) are finding the treatment offers multiple benefits, including reducing radiation exposure to healthy tissue, fewer treatments required, and reduced costs.

IORT is a procedure in which a single dose of radiation is administered at the time of lumpectomy. Compared to traditional radiation therapy, which typically requires 30-35 treatments of radiation administered daily over a period of 5-7 weeks, IORT requires just one dose, which precisely targets cancer cells and reduces radiation exposure to nearby healthy tissue, such as the heart, lungs and ribs.

"Recent studies suggest that many breast cancer patients are treated with more radiation than they need, putting healthy tissue at risk," said leading breast cancer specialist Cynara Coomer, M.D., Chief of Breast Surgery and Director of the Florina Rusi-Marke Comprehensive Breast Center. "Since IORT requires only one dose of radiation, my patients are able to return back to their normal daily activities within days, instead of weeks as compared to traditional treatments."

Dr. Coomer led the efforts to create the first comprehensive breast center on Staten Island, which is equipped with the Xoft® Axxent® Electronic Brachytherapy (eBx®) System®. The Xoft System is FDA cleared to treat cancer anywhere in the body, including skin, vaginal, endometrial, cervical, and early-stage breast cancer.

Using proprietary miniaturized X-ray tube technology and a flexible balloon-shaped applicator, the Xoft System is used at hospitals and medical practices nationwide to perform IORT. 

During the procedure, the surgeon selects a balloon that closely matches the size and shape of the patient's lumpectomy cavity. It is then temporarily inserted into the same incision used for the lumpectomy.  A full course of radiation is then administered in a single dose, directly targeting any cancer cells that may have been left behind, while sparing healthy tissue in the heart, lungs and ribs.

"With this treatment, radiation is delivered from inside the breast, rather than externally as is done during external beam radiation therapy (EBRT)," said Dr. Coomer. "By delivering radiation only to the tissue where it is needed, this procedure can reduce the risk of radiation exposure in healthy tissue. Additionally, the use of sterilized flexible balloon applicators offers a more precise fit and delivers a very accurate dose to the site."

The completion of therapy in only one procedure can also reduce patients' co-pay costs, travel expenses and lost time at work.

To date, more than 10,000 patients have been treated globally, across all clinical applications, with the Xoft System. For more information about IORT, the Xoft System and where to find this treatment near you, visit www.xoftinc.com.

About North Shore-LIJ Health System

One of the nation's largest health systems, North Shore-LIJ delivers world-class clinical care throughout the New York metropolitan area, pioneering research at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, a visionary approach to medical education highlighted by the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, and healthcare coverage to individuals, families and businesses through the North Shore-LIJ CareConnect Insurance Co. Inc. North Shore-LIJ cares for people at every stage of life at 17 hospitals and more than 400 outpatient physician practices throughout the region. North Shore-LIJ's owned hospitals and long-term care facilities house more than 6,000 beds, employ more than 10,000 nurses and have affiliations with over 9,400 physicians. With a workforce of about 48,000, North Shore-LIJ is the largest private employer in New York State.  For more information, go to www.northshorelij.com.

About Xoft Axxent Electronic Brachytherapy System

The Xoft System is an isotope-free radiation treatment cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and CE marked in the EU for use anywhere in the body, including for the treatment of early-stage breast cancer, gynecological cancers and non-melanoma skin cancer. It utilizes a proprietary miniaturized x-ray as the radiation source that delivers precise treatment directly to cancerous areas while sparing healthy tissue and organs. The Xoft System requires only minimal shielding and therefore does not require room redesign or construction investment. Minimal shielding also allows medical personnel to remain in the room with the patient during treatment. The mobility of the Xoft System makes it easy to treat patients at multiple locations and to easily store the system when not in use. Xoft is a wholly owned subsidiary of iCAD, Inc. For more information about Xoft visit www.xoftinc.com, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @xofticad.

About iCAD, Inc.

iCAD delivers innovative cancer detection and radiation therapy solutions and services that enable clinicians to find and treat cancers earlier and faster while enhancing patient care. iCAD offers a comprehensive range of upgradeable computer aided detection (CAD) and workflow solutions to support rapid and accurate detection of breast, prostate and colorectal cancers. iCAD's Xoft® Axxent® Electronic Brachytherapy (eBx®) System® is a painless, non-invasive technology that delivers high dose rate, low energy radiation, which targets cancer while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. The Xoft System is FDA cleared and CE marked for use anywhere in the body, including treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer, early-stage breast cancer and gynecological cancers. The comprehensive iCAD technology platforms include advanced hardware and software as well as management services designed to support cancer detection and radiation therapy treatments. For more information, visit www.icadmed.com or www.xoftinc.com.

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