The Institut IMOR (Medical Institute of Onco-Radiotherapy and Brachytherapy), which is part of the Top Doctors centers of excellence, has performed at idcsalud Clínica del Pilar its first breast cancer treatment using intraoperative radiotherapy directed with INTRABEAM® Zeiss System. This is the first time that this treatment has been carried out on the peninsula, until now it had only been performed in Spain at the University Hospital of Gran Canaria Dr. Negrin.
The Zeiss system is an innovative low-energy X-ray equipment that is routinely used in Europe to treat this type of tumor although, as we mentioned before, it is a totally innovative treatment in Spain.
The international research group TARGIT has been studying this method of administering radiotherapy for breast cancer since 1998 and the results of the trial show that the total number of recurrences is very low. One of its peculiarities, compared to other treatments, is that the radiation is applied directly to the tumor bed, in open tissue, at the time of surgery after removal of the tumor. Thus, it offers important advantages in terms of effectiveness and precision, making it possible to treat with great precision the area where there is a greater risk of the cancer reproducing, with a depth of between 1 and 2 cm and without damaging the adjacent healthy tissue. Treatment is individualized and risk-adapted.
Reducing radiation time
By applying intraoperative radiotherapy immediately after the tumor has been removed, it is possible to reduce the subsequent conventional radiation time, which is usually six weeks. In fact, this can even be eliminated in the case of selected patients with a low risk profile. The application of this technique has important advantages for patients, not only in the physical and psychological sense, but also in terms of time and cost savings due to the reduction in the number of trips to the hospital.