SAVI: Fighting Breast Cancer From Outside and Inside
Radiation treatments for breast cancer can be given with external or internal radiation. External radiation, also called whole-breast irradiation (WBI), treats the whole breast from the outside, by aiming highly penetrating x-rays at your tumor cavity. Breast brachytherapy uses special catheters (tiny tubes) to deliver the radiation from within your breast to your tumor cavity and a small margin of surrounding tissue.
SAVI™ Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI)
SAVI Applicator - Photo © Cianna Medical
The SAVI, which was was FDA approved in 2006, is a breast radiation device that can be custom-fitted to your lumpectomy cavity, regardless of what shape or size it may be. This device is a bundle of soft, tiny catheters. The SAVI is inserted through a small incision, and the catheter bundle expands uniformly, but its unique design allows it to be opened in a way that truly conforms to the size and shape of your tumor cavity. The radiation dose can be individually controlled through each catheter, allowing precise targeting by the radiation oncologist. This device is more customizable than a traditional balloon catheter device, so women with small breasts may be eligible for this type of treatment.
What You Can Expect From A SAVI Applicator
Placement - Photo © Cianna Medical
Dr. Weintritt can place a SAVI radiation applicator at the time of your lumpectomy, or it may be inserted during a separate surgery. Only a small incision is needed, to allow the compact catheter bundle to be placed within your breast. The incision area will be secured with a dressing, and part of each catheter line will extend outside your breast, until your treatment is complete. The catheters are very flexible and soft, so they should be comfortable for you during the five days of radiation. Your site dressings will be changed twice a day during treatment, and must be kept dry. To prevent infections, you may be given antibiotics to take.
Radiation Dosing During Treatments
Dosing - Photo © Cianna Medical
You will report to our facility twice a day for five days, to have treatments. Plan on spending about 30 minutes for each visit, about 5-10 minutes of your appointment will be used for the radiation treatment time. Our radiation oncology team will make you comfortable, and connect your SAVI applicator to the radiation source. During each treatment, the radiation source is sent down each catheter one at a time. A different amount of radiation dose will be given at different points along the length of each catheter. This gives you the best dose for the affected tissue, and the most protection for surrounding healthy tissue.
Completing Radiation and Removing Your SAVI Applicator
Removal - Photo © Cianna Medical
After your final radiation treatment, your radiation oncologist can remove the SAVI device. It should take about two minutes to remove the device, clean your incision site, and close the skin with adhesive strips. A bandage or dressing be placed on top, and you will be free to go. Be sure to go to your follow-up visits, so Dr. Weintritt can see that your incision is healing properly.
For more information visit Cianna Medical online.
Note: The information on this Web site is provided as general health guidelines and may not be applicable to your particular health condition. Your individual health status and any required medical treatments can only be properly addressed by a professional healthcare provider of your choice. Remember: There is no adequate substitution for a personal consultation with your physician. Neither Dr. David Weintritt, Northern Virginia Surgical Specialists, or any of their affiliates, nor any contributors shall have any liability for the content or any errors or omissions in the information provided by this Web site.
The information, content and artwork provided by this Web site is intended for non-commercial use by the reader. The reader is permitted to make one copy of the information displayed for his/her own non-commercial use.
