Xoft announced that the first breast cancer patients have been treated using the Axxent Electronic Brachytherapy System. Designed to help reduce recurrence of breast cancer, the new therapy for early stage breast cancer uses a miniaturized X-ray source that can deliver localized, targeted radiation treatment in virtually any clinical setting under the supervision of a radiation oncologist.
Because it eliminates the need for heavily shielded environments, radiation oncologists can deliver therapy in a broader range of clinical settings. Use of Electronic Brachytherapy potentially reduces the time required for radiation therapy for early stage breast cancer from seven weeks (for external radiation therapy) down to five days. As a result, more patients may opt for breast-sparing lumpectomy surgery with adjuvant radiation therapy rather than a full mastectomy.