ROCHESTER, Minn. - During the Coronavirus Pandemic, some elective and non-emergency medical procedures have been put on hold.
But one thing that hasn't stopped is the need for cancer treatment.
Cancer patients are often at a heightened risk when it comes to the Coronavirus, so some might be hesitant to leave their homes for weeks at a time for treatment.
Statues of the Mayo brothers, Dr. William J. Mayo and Dr. Charles H. Mayo sit on steps across the street from the Mayo Clinic Tuesday, July 2, 2019, in Rochester, Minn. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
There's a fast-track treatment option at Mayo Clinic for some breast cancer patients. It's available to low-risk patients with certain types of early stage breast cancer. Women with small breast cancer tumors and no cancer in their lymph nodes have a lumpectomy in an outpatient procedure. They can leave the same day as their surgery with a catheter in place, which is used to administer a form of radiation therapy.
The protocol was actually developed back in 2011, but doctors say it's an excellent option now during the pandemic.
"So this is kind of a natural fit for suitable patients who want to come, be seen in consultation, have their COVID screening testing done, proceed to surgery, wait a day, get their radiation," explained Mayo Clinic cancer surgeon Dr. Tina Hieken.
The whole treatment is complete in less than 10 days.
"The treatment can be delivered in as short a time frame as 5 days, or within 9 days depending upon the exact treatment plan and the exact day of the week that treatment is started," Hieken explained.
