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Breast cancer treatment takes five days instead of six weeks When the shadowy mass revealed by Libby Holladay's annual mammogram turned out to be a cancerous tumor, she did not panic. Instead, the 57-year-old Wilmington, N.C., resident surrounded herself with family and focused on selecting the best treatment method. While researching breast cancer on the Internet, Libby Holladay's daughter, Kris, learned about MammoSite, a newly approved form of radiation therapy now performed at MUSC and several dozen medical centers nationwide. After a woman has a lumpectomy to remove a breast tumor, MammoSite delivers radiation directly to the tumor site, which helps preserve the surrounding healthy breast tissue. May Prevent Side Effects Compared to traditional external beam radiation therapy that affects the entire breast, MammoSite reduces treatment time from six weeks to five days and may help to prevent other side effects such as fatigue, tissue damage and redness of the skin. “Most women with breast cancer who are treated at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center are able to have breast-conserving treatments,” said Joseph Jenrette III, M.D., a radiation oncologist. “MammoSite is a huge step forward in maximizing healthy breast tissue while minimizing side effects and the duration of radiation therapy.” Two weeks after her lumpectomy last June, Holladay and her husband Jim traveled to MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, the only center performing the MammoSite treatment in the coastal Carolinas. During an outpatient surgical procedure, physicians implanted a balloon catheter where the tumor once was. A week later, Holladay returned to Charleston to begin therapy. Twice a day for five days, the MUSC medical team delivered tiny radiation “seeds” through the catheter, which was easily removed at the end of treatment. An Option For Half Of Breast Cancer Patients “Each treatment only took 10 minutes or so, and I didn't feel a thing,“ said Holladay, who resumed her busy calendar of activities after therapy. “I had treatment in the morning, and then Jim and I would go to lunch and go shopping before the afternoon session. I felt absolutely fine and didn't get tired or have any other side effects.” Jenrette estimates that MammoSite is an option for half of his team's patients. He recommends the therapy for women who have breast tumors smaller than four centimeters, not located too close to the skin or the chest wall. Because of the intensity of the radiation, the therapy is appropriate for women with moderate to larger sized breasts. A Way To Preserve Healthy Tissue Many women have received MammoSite at Hollings Cancer Center and report positive experiences similar to Holladay's.  “They have had very good outcomes so far,” said Jenrette. “It gave those women a choice and a way to preserve healthy breast tissue.” For additional information about MammoSite radiation therapy, call MUSC Health Connection at 792-1414 or 1-800-424-MUSC. Physician and self-referrals are welcome. Free—Coping with Cancer Held the first Tuesday and second Thursday of every month. Call 792-3346 to register. MUSC Hollings Cancer Center patient library, first floor.  A free program for patients, caregivers and loved ones whose lives have been touched by cancer. Facilitated by Elena Bell, MUSC social worker. Editor's note: The article is reprinted from Checkup newsletter, produced by MUSC Business Development and Marketing Communications.    Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.