Portsmouth Regional Hospital, part of HCA New England Healthcare, is now offering high-dose rate brachytherapy (HDR) as part of its radiation oncology service line. HDR is a targeted therapy used to treat several different types of cancer. Portsmouth Regional Hospital offers HDR for patients with uterine, cervical, vaginal and prostate cancers.
“HDR brachytherapy is a critical component of treatment to cure many gynecologic cancers, and is a helpful addition to traditional external radiation for certain types of prostate cancer” said Matthew Parsons, MD, medical director of Portsmouth Regional Hospital’s radiation oncology service line. “Launching this treatment allows us to further expand our cancer treatment services so that we can best serve the needs of our community. Our goal is to provide expert, comprehensive care close to home for all patients in the Seacoast region. No one should feel forced to travel outside their state or existing support networks to receive the care they deserve.”
HDR is performed by placing a catheter inside the patient, either directly into or immediately adjacent to the area of the tumor or surgical bed. This catheter is then connected to a radioactive source, allowing for delivery of radiation in less than 10 minutes. Patients typically undergo three to five sessions of HDR over the course of two to three weeks. This technique allows for highly targeted doses of radiation to be delivered directly to the area of greatest concern, thereby reducing the dose delivered to the rest of the patient’s body, as well as side effects.
There are more than 92,000 new cases of gynecologic cancers each year, and more than 236,000 new cases of prostate cancer each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Cancer and its treatment – medical, surgical and radiation – impacts patients physically, mentally and emotionally,“ said Sean Patterson, chief executive officer of Portsmouth Regional Hospital. “It is our hope that by providing the full spectrum of cancer care here at Portsmouth Regional Hospital, in a warm and private environment, that we will help ease the burden and stress on this patient population.”
The radiation oncology suite at Portsmouth Regional Hospital, located near radiology, has its own entrance to the left of the hospital’s main entrance, as well as convenient, designated parking for radiation oncology patients.
For more information, visit Radiation Therapy, or call (603) 559-4188. Cancer patients outside of Portsmouth Regional Hospital who require radiation treatment can ask their oncologist for a referral to this program.