Sanjay Mehta, M.D.

So we do the scan. Of course, the CT scan is two-dimensional slices, but we have three-dimensional modeling software. So I have a full 3D model of the patient I can look at from any angle. The slices are how thin? It varies. This is not a diagnostic scanner thing. So usually something like two millimeters, three millimeters. We don't have to go super high resolution.

So we do the scan. Of course, the CT scan is two-dimensional slices, but we have three-dimensional modeling software. So I have a full 3D model of the patient I can look at from any angle. The slices are how thin? It varies. This is not a diagnostic scanner thing. So usually something like two millimeters, three millimeters. We don't have to go super high resolution.

And so that way, once it's reconstructed, then I can have a nice idea of what angles to bring the beams in at. Because every person has a slightly different curvature to the chest wall. You're going to have to customize the anatomy. different breast sizes. We have all kinds of different techniques.

And so that way, once it's reconstructed, then I can have a nice idea of what angles to bring the beams in at. Because every person has a slightly different curvature to the chest wall. You're going to have to customize the anatomy. different breast sizes. We have all kinds of different techniques.

I won't go too much into the details, but if someone is very large-breasted, we could even treat them prone, have a special pillow to allow the breast to hang down.

I won't go too much into the details, but if someone is very large-breasted, we could even treat them prone, have a special pillow to allow the breast to hang down.

That's true, but our technically what we call the clinical target volume, the area that we're trying to radiate would actually include the entirety of the breast tissue, even all the way down to the chest wall. So there's two different ways. There's full breast radiation, which is what most people get. But what you're describing actually is partial breast.

That's true, but our technically what we call the clinical target volume, the area that we're trying to radiate would actually include the entirety of the breast tissue, even all the way down to the chest wall. So there's two different ways. There's full breast radiation, which is what most people get. But what you're describing actually is partial breast.

We would just target the lumpectomy cavity. And that can also be done. We save that for usually for older women who have a very small tumor. And when I say older women, it's more because of the fact that the remainder of the breast remains untreated. So a local recurrence is a little bit more likely in someone that has not had full breast radiation.

We would just target the lumpectomy cavity. And that can also be done. We save that for usually for older women who have a very small tumor. And when I say older women, it's more because of the fact that the remainder of the breast remains untreated. So a local recurrence is a little bit more likely in someone that has not had full breast radiation.

But in a selected subpopulation of small breast cancers, in someone with a very large breast, you can do partial breasts where you're only targeting the lumpectomy cavity. But for most of our patients, we actually do treat the whole breast as standard of care, plus or minus the axilla.

But in a selected subpopulation of small breast cancers, in someone with a very large breast, you can do partial breasts where you're only targeting the lumpectomy cavity. But for most of our patients, we actually do treat the whole breast as standard of care, plus or minus the axilla.

That's where the pathology comes in, because if they did have a positive lymph node, then we have to go after the axilla and sometimes the supraclavicular and even intramammary nodes in some cases.

That's where the pathology comes in, because if they did have a positive lymph node, then we have to go after the axilla and sometimes the supraclavicular and even intramammary nodes in some cases.

When they're actually on treatment, it's about 15 minutes, sometimes even a little bit less than that. Some of the newer machines can deliver the beam even faster. But when I say 15 minutes, I'm talking about, I have four patients an hour typically. So in and out of the room in 15. So that includes getting them on the table, The key thing for accuracy and reproducibility is positioning.

When they're actually on treatment, it's about 15 minutes, sometimes even a little bit less than that. Some of the newer machines can deliver the beam even faster. But when I say 15 minutes, I'm talking about, I have four patients an hour typically. So in and out of the room in 15. So that includes getting them on the table, The key thing for accuracy and reproducibility is positioning.

So the reason we made that mold and we've not only did we get them in position, but I've also got a couple of dots on their skin to use as reference marks to make sure that the patient is in the correct position. That whole process probably takes five minutes every day when the patient gets in the room and then maybe another five to 10 minutes for the actual beam to be on.

So the reason we made that mold and we've not only did we get them in position, but I've also got a couple of dots on their skin to use as reference marks to make sure that the patient is in the correct position. That whole process probably takes five minutes every day when the patient gets in the room and then maybe another five to 10 minutes for the actual beam to be on.

And my favorite thing is to come in the room after the patient's first treatment. And then the most common question I get is, hey, doc, when do we start? And I'm like, no, ma'am, that was, they're like, really? That was it? Because the patient feels nothing. So the machine will go through its various angles. It's pre-programmed. The entire process is about 15 minutes a day.

And my favorite thing is to come in the room after the patient's first treatment. And then the most common question I get is, hey, doc, when do we start? And I'm like, no, ma'am, that was, they're like, really? That was it? Because the patient feels nothing. So the machine will go through its various angles. It's pre-programmed. The entire process is about 15 minutes a day.