Intraoperative radiation therapy, or IORT, is an intensive dose of radiation given at the time of surgery instead of afterward.
Through IORT, radiation is given directly to the site where the cancer was removed. IORT replaces weeks of post-surgical breast cancer treatment in one dose during surgery.
Am I a Candidate for IORT?
Candidates for breast IORT at Valley include selected patients with the following criteria:
- Early-stage breast cancer
- Age 60 and older
Benefits of IORT
- More convenient for you: Most breast cancer patients require four to seven weeks of daily radiation therapy after undergoing a lumpectomy. IORT can deliver a full course of radiation in a single dose at the time of surgery.
- Shorter overall treatment: Chemotherapy can be completed before surgery and radiation treatment.
- Limits radiation exposure to healthy tissue and organs: IORT delivers targeted radiation from inside the body at the place where the cancer is most likely to recur. This destroys cancer cells while reducing the risk of damage to nearby healthy tissue and organs, including the heart, lungs and ribs.
- Fewer side effects: Less damage to healthy tissues and organs reduces overall side effects.
Why Choose Valley for IORT?
- Expertise: The Valley Breast Center was the first facility in northern New Jersey to offer intraoperative radiation treatments. That means our physicians are continually fine-tuning its use and have experience addressing any IORT side effects.
- Comprehensive breast cancer program: Valley’s breast cancer program treats all aspects of breast cancer, from diagnosis to survivorship. This gives us the ability to recommend which treatment options will be best for your particular situation — including whether IORT is right for you and, if so, how it fits into your overall treatment plan.
- Team approach: Our breast cancer experts — including surgeons, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists — meet weekly to discuss critical decisions about our patient’s cases. That means recommendations about your care are grounded in a comprehensive understanding of your situation, and customized to your individual needs.
- Accredited breast center: Valley is accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program of the American College of Surgeons. First earning NAPBC approval in 2011, Valley has received its third full NAPBC accreditation for Valley’s Breast Center.
