Numerous published reports indicate that patients with early stage breast cancer who choose the lumpectomy option followed by a full course of radiation therapy, have as good a chance as those electing mastectomy for cancer free survival while preserving their breast.
The boost dose is an important ingredient of the full course of radiation therapy and is delivered to the tissue adjacent to the surgical excision site, a region from which most recurrences originate. The added boost dose to the surgical margin has been shown to provide additional protection against recurrence.
The AccuBoost® process is the latest innovation which includes real-time imaging techniques that your doctor can use to target the radiation dose to the intended site. In addition, using the AccuBoost® Applicators gives your doctor the ability to deliver a conformal dose only to the target tissue, sparing unintended exposure to healthy tissue such as heart, lungs and chest wall.
The AccuBoost® process, including real-time image guidance, allows your doctor to concentrate the radiation to the required site with minimal exposure to surrounding healthy tissue and neighboring organs. You should ask your radiation oncologist about the benefits of the AccuBoost® process and how they apply to you.
Clinical publications have shown that the AccuBoost® process is associated with fewer side effects and lessened radiation related complications. The noninvasive nature of the AccuBoost® process eliminates treatment related infection and drainage issues associated with invasive radiotherapy.
The lumpectomy site is exposed to radiation only during the visit to the hospital. No traces of radioactivity are present anywhere in, or on, the patient after the session is over. The patient is free to follow routine social life without the fear of causing harm or contaminating others.
Radiation delivery with image guidance to target the dose are accepted procedures for the treatment of breast cancer and are covered by most plans. Specific coverage for the AccuBoost® procedure will depend on your individual healthcare plan.