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Regional Cancer Center
Physicians Pioneer Alternative Treatment for Gynecologic Cancers
Physicians have treated gynecologic cancers with surgery
and chemotherapy but a new technique for sterilizing and
eliminating cancerous tumors is an option for some patients.
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) delivers a dose
of precisely targeted radiation to tumors of the uterus, cervix
and ovary.
“This treatment is offered to patients who either cannot tolerate more conventional therapies, such as surgery and chemotherapy, or who are no longer responding well to chemotherapy and are in need of an alternative and effective treatment,” says radiation oncologist, Constantine A. Mantz, M.D. “A good candidate would be a patient who has a small number of—three or fewer—tumors that are not responding to chemotherapy, or persist after chemotherapy. SBRT can sometimes be used after chemotherapy to ‘mop up’ after these more resistant tumors.”
Dr. Mantz, James Orr, M.D., Fadi Abu Shahin, M.D., and Edward Grendys, M.D., recently released a report of 42 patients who completed the therapy, beginning in 2007. Within 24 months of treatment, 82 percent of patients responded positively to the treatment, with their cancers showing no further growth. Importantly, the treatment was found to have minimal side effects.
“The treatment may become a standard of care in the management of these recurrent, resistent cancers,” Dr. Orr says. “SBRT has demonstrated an excellent ability to sterilize these previously difficult-to-treat cancers in this study.”
The group of physicians from 21st Century Oncology, Florida Gynecologic Oncology and Lee Memorial Health System were the first to present their results at a major international medical meeting earlier this year and the Regional Cancer Center is among an elite group of five cancer centers that has conducted research into SBRT for women’s cancers.
“It is helpful to know that this option is available and readily used locally and should be considered for cancers for which surgery, chemotherapy and other standard treatments are no longer effective,” Dr. Orr says.
“It is helpful to know that this option is available and readily used locally and should be considered for cancers for which surgery, chemotherapy and other standard treatments are no longer effective,” Dr. Orr says.
Gynecological Cancers Often Picked Up Later
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Constantine A. Mantz, M.D.
21st Century Oncology
7341 Gladiolus Drive
Fort Myers, FL 33908
239-489-3420
James W. Orr Jr., M.D.
Florida Gynecologic Oncology
8931 Colonial Center Drive, Suite 400
Fort Myers, FL 33905
239-334-6626