"From a physician's point of view, SAVI gives us a higher chance of having a successful implant without having to remove the device. There's a higher probability that we will be able to construct the radiation dose so that it will conform to the lumpectomy cavity of more patients. We're able to reduce the dose delivered to nearby normal tissue more than with whole breast treatment. The amount of radiated lung, chest wall, heart, and breast tissue is a lot less, and we expect that to reduce the risk of side effects"
John Schallenkamp, M.D.
Billings Clinic
Billings, MT
"Patients want a shorter treatment with fewer side effects, and SAVI makes that possible. Since there is so much more flexibility in our treatment parameters, we haven't seen a patient who is a candidate for APBI that couldn't be treated with SAVI. It's very upsetting to patients when we have to pull single catheter devices due to dosimetric problems. There's just no reason to use a single catheter device anymore."
Niti Dube, M.D.
Advanced Radiation Centers of New York
Lake Success, NY
"Earlier devices are really one-size-fits-all. With SAVI, we can dramatically tailor the radiation for individual patients, which allows more women to choose partial breast radiation. This saves them time, reduces complications, preserves healthy breast tissue and offers better cosmetic outcomes than traditional therapy."
William Kokal, M.D.
Suncoast Surgical Associates
Fort Myers, FL
"Our facilities are committed to delivering state-of-of-the art radiation therapy. The SAVI applicator's ability to precisely direct radiation therapy is a major improvement over any other breast brachytherapy device, and expands the number of women who can benefit from APBI."
Shawn Zimberg, M.D.
Advanced Radiation Centers of New York
Lake Success, NY
"Compared to other devices, SAVI isn't as rigid in its requirements about skin spacing and perfect conformation to the cavity. In addition, the risk of infection is less and there's no balloon to rupture. SAVI is a superior device that will most likely double the number of women eligible for breast brachytherapy."
Phillip Ley, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Mississippi Breast Center
Flowood, MS
"The beauty of SAVI is that if the patient is a candidate for partial breast radiation, they're a candidate for SAVI. You don't have the typical skin distance issues that you have with other devices. If SAVI was available when APBI was approved in 2002, hundreds of patients who weren't eligible for balloon brachytherapy would have been able to choose partial breast radiation with SAVI. It's also the easiest of all the brachytherapy devices to remove, which makes it significantly easier on patients when their treatment is over."
Kerri Perry, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Denton, TX
"Roughly one-third of our patients treated with SAVI so far would not have been appropriate candidates for other types of brachytherapy. Thanks to SAVI, we were still able to treat these patients with an accelerated form of therapy and do so far more safely than we could have with other devices. The women tolerated the treatment extremely well, with minimal skin toxicity."
Constantine Mantz, M.D.
21st Century Oncology
Fort Myers, FL
"The flexibility of SAVI significantly increases the number of women that are candidates for partial breast irradiation. By conforming to specific patient anatomy, it can be used in small breasts and in close proximity of normal body structures like the skin or chest wall. SAVI gives more women the opportunity to have a choice when it comes to radiation therapy."
Victor Zannis, M.D.
Breast Care Center of the Southwest
Phoenix, AZ
"None of the patients I've treated with SAVI were candidates for balloon brachytherapy. SAVI provides more dosing flexibility than any other brachytherapy device, giving us the ability to treat the widest array of patients. Most women who meet the clinical guidelines for APBI could be eligible for radiation therapy with SAVI."
Deanna Attai, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Center for Breast Care, Inc.
Burbank, CA
"We're entering a new era of medicine where doctors think about the quality of life of their patients, not just survival. SAVI allows a woman to keep her breast, requires only five days of treatment, and spares healthy tissue from radiation exposure. It's the best of both worlds. Our hope is that the SAVI device will open up breast conservation treatment for more women."
Robert Kuske, M.D.
Arizona Breast Cancer Specialists
Phoenix, AZ
"The SAVI device impressed me with its ability to modulate the radiation dose based on each individual patient. Because it can more precisely target the therapy, SAVI extends the benefits of brachytherapy to a larger group of women, including those who may not be candidates for other types of brachytherapy."
Catheryn Yashar, M.D.
UCSD Moores Cancer Center
San Diego, CA
"The advantage of this device is that it allows us to deliver the dose based on the patient's anatomy. A lighter dose can be delivered through catheters closer to the skin, and stronger doses delivered to catheters deeper in the tissue. This helps prevent the scarring and skin damage experienced previously by so many patients."
Arve Gillette, M.D.
Methodist Dallas Cancer Center
Dallas, TX
"SAVI is a key component of conserving the breast and avoiding damage to healthy tissue. It provides excellent cosmetic results."
Keisha Harris-Henderson, M.D.
Methodist Dallas Cancer Center
Dallas, TX
"This device reduces the treatment time from 6 weeks to 5 days. For working women, SAVI is a particularly good option."
Martin Koonsman, M.D.
Methodist Dallas Medical Center
Dallas, TX