TROY — MammoSite radiation treatment is being selected more often at the UVMC Cancer Care Center by women with early-stage breast cancer.

Introduced locally in 2005, the procedure offers site-specific radiation treatment twice daily for five days for a breast following a lumpectomy, compared to the traditional seven weeks of radiation following the surgery.

Sarah Jones, oncology nurse clinician for the Cancer Care Center, said patient requests and a recommendation from Dr. Stewart Lowry of Miami County Surgeons originally sparked the technology's introduction at UVMC. In the past three years, more than 300 treatments have been provided locally.

Jean Heath, Cancer Care Center executive director, said MammoSite has several advantages. With a large number of women who come for treatment also working, the five days versus several weeks is seen as less hectic long-term on the work schedules. In addition, there are fewer complications from radiation for the patient's skin. And, Heath said, the look and feel of the breast is preserved.

In addition to Dr. Lowry, the other physicians at Miami County Surgeons — Dr. Chris Grove, Dr. Rowan Nichol, Dr. Daniel Taylor and Dr. Patrick Larreategui — also can perform the catheter placement procedure.

For more information, on the UVMC Cancer Care Center and MammoSite radiation treatment, contact (937) 440-4835 or visit the web at www.mammosite.com.