Single dose of breast cancer radiation gives hope to sufferers

Breast cancer patients in the U.S. last week were offered a new treatment protocol that has been reducing the need of post-surgery radiation in Europe.

The intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) Novac7 delivers a dose of radiation during surgery instead of the current standard of six weeks of post-op radiation treatments. The IORT treatment is delivered while the patient is undergoing surgery. This mode of delivery gives patients better cosmetic results and more importantly an improved quality of life, a physician claims. Dr. Pablo Lavagnini, director of radiation oncology at CTCA, became a crusader for better breast cancer treatments when his own mother died from the disease. He has been a supporter of the IORT treatment in Italy because the treatment allows patients to resume their lives more quickly with fewer side effects. What's more the treatment has the same or better outcomes for patients than current standards. Since the Novac 7 first arrived in the US Lavagnini's sister was diagnosed with breast cancer. She came from her home in Urugary for a second opinion from her brother. As a result of that trip Asisë became the United States' first patient to receive IORT. “It is as if my life’s work was leading up to this day,” said Dr. Lavagnini in a press release obtained by Digital Journal. “I never expected my sister to be my patient, but I am thankful that she was among the many women who will benefit from this technology, which is very different from the treatment that our mother received many years ago. I expect that IORT will change the standard of care for breast cancer over time.” Patients interested in learning more can call 1.888.353.7687.