Cancer Centers of North Carolina Offers New 5-Day Breast Cancer Therapy

RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Cancer Centers of North Carolina and
Carolina Breast Care Specialists are the first cancer facilities in Raleigh to
offer the SAVI(TM) applicator, an advanced therapy for breast cancer as part
of breast-conservation therapy. The SAVI applicator can provide important
advantages for women with early-stage breast cancer and is designed to make
the benefits of breast-conservation therapy and brachytherapy available to
more women.

Breast-conservation therapy includes lumpectomy- the surgical removal of the
cancerous tissue within the breast plus tissue immediately around the tumor -
followed by radiotherapy. This approach is an alternative to mastectomy, which
removes the entire breast and is often followed by breast reconstruction. The
new SAVI applicator delivers a form of radiation therapy known as breast
brachytherapy. This multi-catheter applicator treats the tissue surrounding
the lumpectomy cavity from the inside out. The device is inserted into the
lumpectomy cavity through a small incision. The physician then gently expands
the bundle of catheters so the radiation dose will conform to the size and
shape of the area to be treated.

This approach, is an alternative to traditional breast-conservation
radiotherapy. Breast brachytherapy typically involves two treatments per day
for only five days. This shorter time frame makes brachytherapy more
convenient than traditional, external-beam radiation which is delivered daily
five times a week and takes approximately six weeks. In addition, breast
brachytherapy with SAVI can minimize radiation exposure of healthy tissue,
such as the skin, heart, lungs and ribs.

"This technology overcomes the limitations of older single catheter balloon
brachytherapy devices. SAVI makes it possible for us to provide more
appropriately selected women breast brachytherapy," said Kolby Sidhu M.D.,
radiation oncologist.

Surgeon, Sean Canale, stated "The option of accelerated partial breast
radiation fits well with the last 25 years of surgical efforts to offer
quality cancer care and breast conservation to patients. The SAVI device
expands the range and number of patients that we can offer this option to."

Mrs. Gretchen Horton, who is receiving treatment for breast cancer was
disappointed when she discovered that she was not a candidate for MammoSite ®.
She stated that receiving brachytherapy with the use of the SAVI
technology, "...has been a blessing to me." Mrs. Horton stated that she
recommends it to other women, and is very happy that she does not have to
travel for radiotherapy 5 days per week for 6 weeks.

Medical Oncologist, Elizabeth Campbell, MD added, "Completing radiotherapy in
a timely fashion and with minimal toxicity facilitates moving on to systemic
therapy, with hormone blockers, and in some women, chemotherapy, in an
efficient fashion, with optimal outcomes."

Cancer Centers of North Carolina and Carolina Breast Care Specialists are
among the first cancer centers in the U.S. to offer SAVI. The SAVI technology
was developed by Cianna Medical, Inc., (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) a women's health
company dedicated to the early treatment of breast cancer.

About Carolina Breast Specialists
Carolina Breast Care Specialists was founded to provide women with access to
state of the art quality specialty care. Women at our practice can be
confident that their issues will be addressed with the attention and
importance that they deserve. Patients never feel they are competing with
other medical issues for attention. We work with a highly skilled team of
experts in breast disease to create an individualized care program involving
not only surgical oncology but also medical oncology, radiation oncology, and
plastic surgery. Where appropriate, a strong effort is made to offer breast
conservation using oncoplastic techniques. Patients are also provided with
access to the latest in cancer genomics

www.carolinabreastcarespecialists.com

About Cancer Centers of North Carolina
Cancer Centers of North Carolina (CCNC) has been providing comprehensive
cancer care in the greater Triangle area for 30 years. Beginning as a single
physician practice, originally named Raleigh Hematology Oncology, CCNC has
grown to a physician staff of thirteen medical oncologists, two radiation
oncologists, a head and neck surgical oncologist and a gynecologic oncologist,
and offers services in Raleigh, North Raleigh, Cary, Clayton, and Dunn. The
practice provides advanced state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic
services including administration of chemotherapy, biologic and targeted
therapies, Computed Tomography (CT), Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy
(IMRT), laboratory and pharmacy services, and an extensive clinical trials
program connecting patients to leading cancer investigators around the
country. CCNC brings the best of medical science and cancer care support
services together in one pleasant, convenient, community-based organization.

www.cancercentersofnc.com

SOURCE Cancer Centers of North Carolina

Susan Melchione, +1-919-510-5619, for Cancer Centers of North Carolina