Physicist Michael Kan assists Tonya Keeling with her MammoSite treatment.

When Paducahan Tonya Keeling was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was relieved to find she could undergo a breast-saving lumpectomy, coupled with a new five-day treatment.

“At the time, I worked out of town,” said Keeling, “so coming daily to the hospital for six weeks of treatment would have been especially cumbersome.”

The hospital’s new MammoSite treatment offered another option.

Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002, MammoSite radiation targets breast cancer from inside the breast and is completed in five days. It targets the tissue surrounding the original tumor, minimizing exposure to the rest of the breast, skin, ribs, lungs and heart.

General surgeon Daniel Howard, M.D., said MammoSite provides welcomed options to both patients and physicians.

“MammoSite makes it easier for more women to consider the choice of lumpectomy,” said Dr. Howard, “and it provides physicians with an important new tool in treating breast cancer.”

A deflated balloon is placed inside the tumor resection cavity with a tube connected to the balloon remaining outside the breast. The balloon is inflated with saline to fill the cavity and remains inflated while the patient receives radiation therapy—usually five days.

During treatment, the patient returns as an outpatient to the hospital, where a radioactive “seed” is inserted in the inflated balloon, beginning a sequence of twicedaily 15-minute treatments. When the therapy is concluded, the balloon is deflated and the MammoSite catheter is removed.

Keeling said the process was quick, easy and effective.

“I work full-time,” said Keeling, “so the convenience MammoSite offered was remarkable.”

Keeling’s cancer was discovered during an annual mammogram.

All women are advised to conduct monthly breast self-exams; those older than 40 should have annual mammograms, both important measures in breast-cancer detection. Breast cancer is the leading cancer in women, but when discovered early, the American Cancer Society states a 98 percent five-year survival rate.