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Dr. Marlana Ottinger, Radiation Oncology at Mercy

Radiation Oncologist Dr. Marlana Ottinger Discusses The Savi (Strut-Adjusted Volume Implant) Treatment For Breast Cancer

When a breast cancer patient has a lumpectomy, it's often followed by radiation treatments that can take several weeks, but a new device is making it possible to deliver radiation therapy in just days.

Carmen Geiser said she got the shock of a lifetime in October when her mammogram picked up early breast cancer.

"That was tough when they said cancer. You think you're going to die," she said.

Geiser's lumpectomy was followed by partial breast radiation delivered by a new system called the SAVI, or Strut-Adjusted Volume Implant.

"Instead of six and a half weeks, it's five days," Geiser said.

Radiation oncologist Dr. Marlana Ottinger of Mercy Medical Center said the SAVI works for patients whose tumor is close to the skin or with an irregular shape. The device is inserted into the breast under computer control, and a radioactive seed goes into each catheter customized to the patient.

"We can manipulate the images to plan exactly how to load each of those catheters with radioactive sources," Dr. Ottinger said.

Geiser wore the device for five days and got two 10-15 minute treatments a day -- then she was done.

"That was five to six months ago," she said. "I feel great."

For more information, watch Dr. Ottinger's interview on WBAL-TV11's "Woman's Doctor" at http://www.wbaltv.com/womansdoctor/19107897/detail.html.