Breast cancer patients can now benefit from pioneering radiotherapy which is given during surgery to target and remove tumours.
The Trust is only the second in the country outside London to offer the treatment which uses state-of-the-art equipment deliver radiotherapy during surgery. It is provided at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester.
Previously, patients with breast cancer may have made up to 25 trips to Southampton for post-surgery radiotherapy. But now, with this single-dose 'intra-operative radiotherapy' the number of sessions is dramatically reduced to as few as one.
This month marks the start of the new groundbreaking method, which requires just one shot of targeted radiotherapy, dramatically cutting both the treatment and travel time for breast cancer patients.
The Trust has been fortunate to have been able to use a legacy donation to pay most of the initial £349,000 equipment and set up costs.
Leading the project is Consultant Surgeon Mr Dick Rainsbury, who has an international reputation for pioneering techniques in breast surgery.
He said: “We’re really proud to be involved in this trial – there are just 20 centres across the world pioneering this treatment. The Trust is well known for its expertise in breast cancer so we’re delighted to be leading the way with this fantastic new development. Having breast cancer is traumatic enough, without the added hassle of numerous hospital visits. So, we are thrilled to offer a treatment that will dramatically improve the patients’ experience by saving these tiring trips. Being able to limit damage to the breast is a big plus too.”
Prospective Winchester MP, Steve Brine added; "This is really good news for local women. Breast cancer takes so much away from its victims and their families, it is really important we now have this facility which promises to radically change the experience of those fighting it and allows them to do so much closer to home.”
The intra-operative radiotherapy works by using a miniature electron beam X-ray source to deliver radiation. This means that the radiation goes directly to tissues at the site of the tumour rather the traditional post-operative method where the whole breast is irradiated after surgery.
Physicists from Southampton work with the Trust’s surgeons to carry out this high-tech treatment during initial surgery. Alternatively, some patients may also be eligible to have this procedure after surgery, provided this is within 30 days. As well as cutting the number of treatment sessions, intra-operative radiotherapy can also aid breast conservation because less tissue is damaged. This leads to a better cosmetic result, which is an important part of the recovery process.
The Trust is providing intra-operative radiotherapy as part of an international trial to compare this with post-operative radiotherapy in early breast cancer. The safety and clinical effectiveness of the treatment is not in doubt but in order to evaluate whether there is any difference between the treatments in reducing the risk of the cancer returning in the affected breast, patients will be closely monitored and followed up for ten years.
Because the trial randomises women to the two different treatment options, those who agree to take part will have a 50:50 chance of receiving conventional radiotherapy or targeted intraoperative radiotherapy. Around 40 women per year could have the new method of treatment.
Pictured; the new machine, recently installed at the RHCH.