Capital Region | Capital Health | Winter 2019

INTRAOPERATIVE RADIATION THERAPY Early-stage breast cancer is no match for new technology A CLINICAL BREAKTHROUGH FOR BREAST CANCER TREATMENT TARGETED A miniature x-ray source delivers a precise dose of radiation directly to the tumor site—the area with the highest risk of recurrence—immediately following surgery. EFFICIENT IORT with the Xoft System is delivered at the time of surgery, offering a simple, one-day treatment solution and improved quality of life for eligible patients. REDUCED COSTS By streamlining the delivery of radiation therapy, IORT offers a cost-effective solution for both physicians and patients. VERSATILE IORT can deliver a single fraction or boost dose of intraoperative radiation. IORT boost may reduce the need for subsequent traditional radiation therapy by approximately one week. Jay Allen, MD Radiation Oncologist crmc.org 3 Early-stage breast cancer patients now have a more convenient, more effective option for beating the disease. What is IORT? Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) delivers a concentrated treatment of radiation to cancerous tumors during surgery. This technique allows doctors to administer high doses of radiation to tumors without exposing nearby healthy organs to radiation. In select patients, a single dose of intraoperative radiation has been shown to have as much effect on the tumor as 16 to 30 daily radiation treatments. Capital Region Medical Center is the only hospital in Missouri to offer IORT—which has successfully been performed on two early-stage breast cancer patients. Advanced cancer treatment technology—right here Research shows that radiation therapy is an essential component of cancer treatment— however, many patients do not have access to this critical technology. Recent studies suggest that many women opt out of receiving breast- sparing surgery with radiation therapy due to time, distance or difficulty accessing a radiation therapy center. For Jefferson City patients, that’s no longer the case. “We’re helping to bring advanced medicine to the community,” says Jay Allen, MD, radiation oncologist at Goldschmidt Cancer Center at Capital Region. “This procedure gives our local, eligible breast cancer patients the chance to receive their entire radiation treatment in a single dose. This can dramatically reduce treatment time by eliminating a longer radiation course.” The procedure is completed during a planned surgery, such as a lumpectomy, to remove the tumor. The radiation oncologist is in the operating room working right alongside the surgeon. “We are essentially able to expand our multidisciplinary approach to treating patients into the operating room,” says Dr. Allen. “We have a highly collaborative spirit among our team of oncologists, surgeons and nurses. This is a shining example of the positive payoff when we are all working together for the benefit of our patients.”