The Xoft® Electronic Brachytherapy (eBx®) System® for breast brachytherapy is designed to simplify the radiation therapy procedure and increase accessibility to patients who are suitable candidates for partial-breast irradiation (PBI).
Breast eBx® with the Xoft System delivers a prescribed, targeted dose of radiation directly to the site where cancer recurrence is most likely. Compared to traditional radiotherapy, eBx® requires fewer treatments and minimizes exposure to healthy tissue and organs, such as the ribs, lungs, heart and opposite breast (Reduced Dose to Heart and Lungs). Patients also experience low rates of serious complications and favorable cosmetic outcomes.
Breast eBx® — A Multi-disciplinary Approach
Communication between the breast surgeon and radiation oncologist is a key component of successful treatment. This physician-to-physician collaboration is particularly important in the treatment process, during which a joint effort can be made to ensure that the patient meets the treatment criteria and that a lumpectomy cavity is conducive to a successful eBx®treatment.
Breast eBx® Is a Two-stage Process:
1. The surgeon places the balloon. 2. A radiation oncologist oversees delivery of radiation.
After the surgeon performs the lumpectomy and receives the pathology report, an uninflated balloon — connected to a catheter — is placed inside the cavity. Once in place, the balloon is inflated with a sterile saline solution to fit snugly into the lumpectomy cavity. The balloon remains inflated for the entire time the patient is receiving radiation therapy.
The radiation oncologist determines the amount of radiation needed. This treatment is delivered on an outpatient basis twice a day for five days in a non-shielded room.
During radiation therapy, the portion of the catheter that remains outside the breast will be connected to an Xoft controller.
The patient is prepped with a flexible X-ray shield that is draped over the breast. A tiny X-ray source travels through the catheter into the inflated balloon inside the breast. The system then administers the therapy, with no additional shielding necessary. The X-ray source remains in the balloon and delivers radiation for about 10 minutes. The positioning of the X-ray source and the dosage required to effectively treat the cancer have already been determined in the treatment plan. The X-ray source is then turned off and withdrawn through the catheter. No radiation remains in the breast between treatments or after the final treatment. At the end of radiation treatment (usually on the same day as the final treatment), the balloon is deflated and easily removed.
