Word: breasted
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Instead of a mastectomy, Blaschko opted for interstitial radiation therapy -the temporary implanting of tiny bits of radioactive isotopes in and around the malignant tissue. She has had no reason to regret her decision; the lump in her breast has receded, the cancer in her lymph nodes has apparently been eradicated, and she feels so well that she has taken up cycling along with her daily swimming...
...long been used to treat certain cancers of the neck, head, vagina and other parts of the body difficult to cope with surgically. Now, U.S. doctors, confronted by 90,000 new cases of the disease a year, are showing an increased interest in the use of interstitial implants against breast cancer as well...
...breast tumor is still small-no more than 4 cm. (1½ in.) in diameter -doctors first excise the growth in a relatively simple surgical procedure called a lumpectomy. Larger tumors are left in place because their removal would destroy the shape of the breast. Then the radioactive material, usually the shortlived, man-made isotope iridium 192, is inserted into the tumor area. The technique requires extreme care; the iridium must be inserted precisely and in just the right quantity to avoid damage to nearby healthy tissue...
Typically, the physician pushes several hollow steel needles horizontally into the breast through the tumorous area and out the other side (see diagram). Thin plastic tubes are then threaded through the needles (which are subsequently removed) and anchored in place by small plastic buttons at either end. The iridium-in the form of tiny "seeds" embedded in a thin, stiff nylon ribbon -is inserted into the tubes. The outer layer of the seed is a steel sheathing; it blocks dangerous ionizing beta rays (electrons), but allows the escape of the high-energy gamma rays that destroy the tumor...
...radiation treatment continues for three to five days. While she may be uncomfortable, the patient experiences little pain and negligible scarring. Sometimes the breast and lymph nodes are bombarded by external radiation as well; the patient may also receive anticancer drugs to destroy malignant cells elsewhere in the body...