Aspirus oncologists using new technology to treat breast, gynecologic cancer

WAUSAU, Wis. – The Aspirus Regional Cancer Center recently became the first program in the state to use the Axxent® Electronic Brachytherapy System from Xoft to treat two different types of cancer.

Within the past three weeks, experts at the Aspirus Regional Cancer Center have treated a patient with breast cancer, and another with gynecologic cancer using the new state-of-the-art technology.

The Axxent system administers X-ray-based radiation therapy to treat early-stage breast cancer for select post-lumpectomy breast cancer patients, as well as select forms of gynecologic cancer. It delivers therapy more easily and conveniently, drastically reducing patients’ treatment schedules when compared to traditional radiation therapy treatments.

“The Axxent system has the potential to be used for treating a number of different types of cancer,” said Tod Speer, M.D., a radiation oncologist at the Aspirus Regional Cancer Center. “We are fortunate to be able to offer this type of treatment to our patients, because it offers so many benefits when compared to other types of cancer therapy.”

The Axxent system uses a micro X-ray tube to deliver radiation from inside the body, directly to the cancerous site. This precise delivery of radiation reduces treatment time for breast cancer patients to five days, as compared to five to eight weeks with conventional therapy.

Drastically reducing a patient’s time commitment eliminates a huge barrier for many women, especially those who don’t live in close proximity to a cancer center. The Axxent system also offers other benefits, including:

• Less radiation is delivered to surrounding healthy organs and tissues.
• A reduced safety risk for patients and those who administer treatments.
• Minimal side effects.
• Faster recovery time.

“We are very proud to be the first in the state to utilize this type of brachytherapy to treat patients with two different types of cancer,” said Jeff Limmer, Chief Medical Physicist at the Aspirus Regional Cancer Center. “There have only been 11 other programs in the entire world to treat gynecologic cancer patients with the Axxent system, so we’re pretty excited about being able to offer it to patients right here in north central Wisconsin.”   

In 2008, the National Cancer Institute estimated thousands of new cases of cancer that could potentially be treated more effectively by the Axxent system, including:

• Breast cancer – 182,460 new cases.
• Cervical cancer – 11,070 new cases
• Ovarian cancer – 21,650 new cases
• Uterine cancer – 40,100 new cases.
• Vaginal cancer – 2,210 new cases.
• Vulvar cancer – 3,460 new cases.

A single Axxent Electronic Brachytherapy treatment takes about 10 to 15 minutes, and treatments are generally administered twice a day during the week of therapy. This treatment is not appropriate for all post-lumpectomy breast cancer patients, or gynecologic cancer patients. All patients should speak with their doctor to decide on the method of treatment most appropriate for them.

Contact: Greg Aune, 715.847.0479