Methodist Dallas Treats First Male in Texas to Receive SAVI® Advanced Breast Cancer Treatment

DALLAS, Oct. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- When we think about breast cancer, most of us think of it as a disease only affecting women. The truth is, about 2,140 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among men this year, according to the American Cancer Society.

George Ross was one of those men. Ross is also the first man in Texas to receive the SAVI® therapy, an advanced treatment device for breast cancer that provides multiple benefits for patients. SAVI reduces the course of treatment time from six weeks to just five days. Ross was treated at Methodist Dallas Medical Center.

The SAVI applicator can provide important advantages for patients with early-stage breast cancer by delivering a form of radiation therapy known as breast brachytherapy. This approach, which targets the tumor site from inside the breast, is becoming a more widely used alternative to traditional radiation. Breast brachytherapy typically involves two treatments per day for only five days. This shorter timeframe makes brachytherapy far more convenient than traditional, external-beam radiation. The latter is delivered five times a week and takes six or seven weeks. In addition to shortening the therapy time, breast brachytherapy with SAVI minimizes radiation exposure for healthy tissue, which reduces impacts to critical structures such as the skin, heart, lungs and ribs.  

"While male breast cancer is much less common than its female counterpart, we are pleased to offer the same leading edge technology for both men and women," says Arve Gillette, MD, an independently practicing radiation oncologist on the medical staff at Methodist Health System. "We look forward to participating in other advances in treating this disease, whether for women, or the rare but increasingly frequent occurrences among men."

Ross, who discovered the lump that led to his diagnosis of breast cancer, is doing well after the treatment and offers a word of advice to other men.  "Check yourself regularly," says Ross. "You never know."

Methodist Dallas Medical Center was named a Center of Excellence in accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) for its use of the SAVI® applicator, an advanced therapy for breast cancer as part of breast conservation therapy. The Center of Excellence designation recognizes a facility's dedication to education, training and experience in APBI. To qualify, physicians, medical physicists, and clinical staff are required to complete a comprehensive training and education program to demonstrate proficiency in delivering radiation therapy with SAVI. Recognized facilities have also expressed a commitment to patient education, advocacy and awareness of advanced breast cancer treatments.

"Cianna Medical is proud to acknowledge the contributions that these surgeons and radiation oncologists are making to the APBI field," said Jill Anderson, president and CEO of Cianna Medical.

About Methodist Health System

Guided by the founding principles of life, learning, and compassion, Methodist Health System (Methodist) provides quality, integrated care to improve and save the lives of individuals and families throughout North Texas. Methodist Dallas Medical Center, Methodist Charlton Medical Center, Methodist Mansfield Medical Center, Methodist Richardson Medical Center, Methodist Midlothian Health Center, and Methodist Family Health Centers are part of the nonprofit Methodist Health System, which is affiliated by covenant with the North Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church. Additional information is available at www.methodisthealthsystem.org. Connect with them through Facebook, YouTube and Twitter at www.methodisthealthsystem.org/socialmedia.

Texas law prohibits hospitals from practicing medicine. The physicians on the Methodist Health System medical staff are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Methodist Health System.

SOURCE Methodist Health System