Curing Skin Cancer with HDR Brachytherapy at the Maroone Cancer Center.
South Florida’s outdoor lifestyle can contribute to a high incidence of skin cancer, which Cleveland Clinic Florida specialists are treating with high dose rate
(HDR) brachytherapy. Brachytherapy destroys cancer cells by placing a high dose radiation pellet near the cancer, providing highly precise radiation treatment. conformal, At the Maroone Cancer Center, an optimized treatment plan with HDR brachytherapy can vary from one to three weeks, depending on the extent of the skin cancer.
“HDR brachytherapy has been shown to control over 95 percent of the non-melanoma skin cancers treated,” Dr. Greskovich said. “Brachytherapy may also be more suitable for people taking blood-thinners or who have problems with wound healing.”
Larger tumors treated with surgery often require tissue reconstruction using a skin graft or bringing in tissue from other parts of the body. By contrast, no reconstructive surgery necessary when using brachytherapy. “After radiation with brachytherapy, the appearance of the skin goes back to normal,” said Dr. Greskovich. “HDR brachytherapy using the Freiburg Flap, a flexible mesh-style surface mold that can be sized and shaped to match the contour of the area being treated, augments the treatment ‘toolbox’ that our specialists use to achieve optimal results for non-melanoma and skin cancer patients. In addition to brachytherapy, Cleveland Clinic Florida patients have an expanded array of treatment options, including immunotherapy drugs for advanced basal cell carcinoma and Merkel Cell Carcinoma. is “We are excited to offer these innovative treatments, guided by a multidisciplinary team of researchers,” concluded Dr. Greskovich.