FLORENCE– North Alabama Cancer Center at North Alabama Medical Center now provides an innovative technique for treating breast cancer called Prone Breast Radiation Therapy. This technique positions the patient in a prone, or face down, position during treatment, that reduces the radiation exposure the heart and lung, while maximizing the dose to the cancer in the breast.
North Alabama Cancer Center is the only radiation therapy center in north Alabama to offer prone breast radiation therapy.
Prone breast radiation therapy is a unique approach to treating breast cancer. Radiation is administered on a specially designed breast board to help a woman lie comfortably in the prone position – typically on the stomach, with the breast hanging away from the body.
In this position, radiation beams can be delivered within a few millimeters of precision, allowing the physician to protect surrounding tissue and nearby organs like the heart and lungs. This lowers the risks for immediate side effects and for future complications like heart disease.
The amount of radiation delivered in the prone position is the same as standard supine treatments. The patient is simply in a different position, avoiding radiation exposure to major internal organs. Most studies show that when comparing radiation treatments in the prone position versus supine position, there is lower radiation exposure to both the lungs and heart.
“The heart is especially vulnerable to damage when the left breast is treated,” said Dr. Vic, Radiation Oncologist at North Alabama Cancer Center at NAMC.
“Placing patients in the prone position allows us to limit radiation exposure to the heart and other vital organs. We are so excited to be the first to offer this treatment to the North Alabama community.”
North Alabama Cancer Center at NAMC is equipped with a skilled team trained in this innovative technique, continuing the tradition of offering patients in the Shoals community the full range of advanced care and treatment options.
Media Release/Randa Hovater/Director, Communications and Marketing/North Alabama Medical Center
