Ebx
What is Electronic Brachytherapy (Ebx)?
Electronic Brachytherapy (Ebx) is a highly focused therapy that uses low-energy x-rays without using a radioactive isotope. The treatment thus maximally spares healthy tissues and can be delivered safely and conveniently in an unshielded room.
How does Ebx compare with traditional radiation therapies?
External Beam Radiotherapy (EBRT) uses low-dose x-rays or electrons accurately directed to the area of the tumor within a specialized treatment facility. It is used for the vast majority of cancer types and is delivered daily over several weeks. HDR Brachytherapy works via a precise, radioactive seed that delivers high dose radiation within specialized catheters to a targeted area within a shielded room. It is also commonly used for breast, lung, prostate and gynecologic cancers.
What is the Ebx procedure?
The Ebx Procedure: The simple outpatient treatment takes place 2-3 times per week. The number of sessions required will vary based on the tumor size, depth, and location. An individualized treatment plan with custom shielding is developed for each patient. During treatment, a small surface applicator is applied to the skin thru which radiation is delivered for just a few minutes. The therapy is non-invasive and painless. The patients are able to drive themselves home and immediately return to normal activities. As a superficial skin treatment localized to the skin cancer, there is no radiation exposure to other areas of your body or to anyone else. A radiation therapist and physicist work under the direct supervision of a physician who specializes in radiation treatment of skin cancer.
What are the benefits of Ebx?
Cure rates are similar to surgery and EBRT: most people receiving brochy therapy remain cancer-free. Painless Procedure: Pain-free, knife-free and needle-free, no anesthesia or sedation is needed. Minimal or no scarring:
Outstanding appearance of treatment site. Minimal loss of use: Little or no healthy tissue affected so loss
of use is minimal compared to surgery. Minimal side effects: Accurate delivery of radiation directly to tumor reduces the risk of side effects. Convenience of short treatment: Brachytherapy is often given over a few
days compared to weeks of EBRT and unlike surgery, no recovery time is needed State-of-the-art therapy:
Established therapy; continued technological advances providing even more effective treatment.
Who is a good candidate for Ebx?
With a number of excellent options, patients can choose according to their individual preferences for treatment.
Considerations include comfort, pain, treatment time, effectiveness, and appearance post treatment.
Brachytherapy may be the treatment of choice when:
• Looking for a painless, nonsurgical therapy
• Scarring needs to be minimal as the tumor is in
a visible area (face or nose)
• The tumor is in an uncomfortable position (shin)
• Surgery is not advised due to a health condition
or medication (blood thinners)
• It is vital to preserve the structure and use of the
area being treated (hand or ear)
• The margins are positive after initial surgical
excision.