Radiation Therapy

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
IMRT stands for Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy. This involves varying the intensity of a radiation beam into several smaller beams that pinpoint and destroy cancer cells while sparing normal organs and tissues. IMRT enables physicians to tailor the radiation dosages to the contours of a tumor while reducing irradiation of healthy organs and tissues. This treatment works well for prostate cancer, head and neck, abdominal, lung, and other sites where the cancer may wrap around healthy organs and tissues.

Brachytherapy
Brachytherapy is the placement of radioactive seeds, needles, or catheters near or inside a tumor. These can be placed permanently or temporarily depending on the cancer being treated.

High Dose Rate (HDR)
HDR is a term meaning High Dose Rate. It is a type of brachytherapy that uses a high dose source that is only placed in or near cancers temporarily in a highly controlled manner under strict supervision. It finds the most use in gynecologic cancers, sarcomas and less commonly other sites such as esophageal, lung or tumors of the biliary tract. Because the radiation is delivered in high doses, the treatment time is shortened.

Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI)

SAVI® Breast Brachytherapy
The SAVI® breast brachytherapy applicator is the latest advancement in the delivery of radiation treatment for women with early-stage breast cancer. Arizona Oncology Radiation is designated as a Center of Excellence in accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) for offering this advanced technology.
 
Breast brachytherapy is an approach that uses radiation to treat the lumpectomy cavity and the surrounding tissue from within the breast.  SAVI allows your radiation oncologist to precisely deliver radiation where it is needed most.
 
If you have been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, you might be eligible for 5-day radiation therapy with SAVI. SAVISisters.com provides access to important information about the SAVI applicator and partial breast radiation, as well as the opportunity to learn more from the women who have already experienced treatment with SAVI. 
 

Mammosite
Mammosite is a specific type of HDR Brachytherapy which specifically is used to treat breast cancer. It utilizes an inflatable balloon temporarily placed in a lumpectomy site at the time of surgery or in some cases, 2-3 weeks later and then followed by twice daily treatments over 5 days of just a few minutes a day where only the resected area of the breast is targeted.

Contura                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Contura is a type of radiation balloon called a multi-lumen balloon or MLB. Contura contains five separate lumens or tubes inside the balloon. The additional lumens help your doctor to shape or contour the radiation dose away from the skin or chest wall to obtain a more optimal result. Your doctor may be able to better target the radiation to the areas in most need of treatment and keep it away from healthy tissue and organs to help minimize side effects caused by the radiation.
 
For more information and answers to your radiation therapy questions, click here.