The MammoSite is a small, soft balloon attached to a thin catheter (tube) that fits inside the lumpectomy cavity (the space left after the tumor is removed). A tiny radioactive source (seed) is placed within the balloon by a computer-controlled machine. Because the source is inside the balloon, radiation is delivered to the area of your breast where cancer is most likely to recur. When used as primary therapy - the only form of radiation following a lumpectomy - you would receive treatments twice a day for 5 days. If your doctor feels that whole-breast external beam radiation is more appropriate for you, the MammoSite may be used as boost therapy. This therapy combines the MammoSite with external beam radiation to deliver additional radiation directly to the area of the breast where cancer is most likely to recur. In this case, MammoSite therapy is delivered over 1 to 2 days. View a demonstration of this procedure.
Information provided by Cytyc Corporation makers of Mammosite. |  | How it Works | The tiny radioactive source is inserted only during appointments and then removed. No source of radiation remains in your body between treatments or after the final treatment is over. Neither the MammoSite catheter, nor the liquid inside, is radioactive in any way.
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