i haven't posted here in a long tong time, and i really should.  I'm scheduled
for surgery - lumpectomy (possible recurrence) in 11 days.  I asked the surgeon
about this and he said that it's possible.  It's notthe MammoSite.  This is
called brachytherapy.  They give it under certain circumstances, and it is
after lumpectomy, just before radiation (I have to wait a month before getting
radiation, because the scar of lumpectomy must heal) ... the purpose is to
lesson the amount of time you must go to radiation (for me it would be about 5
weeks, 5 times a day).  This would be a boost of radiation seeds.).  When the
surgeon mentioned a "puncture with a tube" is when i freaked out a bit.  I
said, with local anesthia, correct?" And he said yes.

I don't know if this helps you.  Mammosite might be less invasive?  Smaller in
terms of not being a "puncture."??  

I am sure there is plenty of material on Mammosite - and it's fairly new
procedure - don't think it's done everywhere.  
Regards,
Deva

I completed Mamosite two weeks ago. Had a small tube hanging out of my
left breast for 7 days. Tube and it's little ballon were inserted by
my surgeon as out-patient. Treatment was twice a day for 5 days. I had
a weekend fall in the middle, otherwise the tube/balloon would only
have hung around for 5 days. Treatment was a scan to make sure balloon
was in good shape then 10 minutes on a table, hooked up to "R2D2" that
sent the "source" into my tube. It was tough not being able to
bath/shower but I got good at the sink with a washrag.

Removal of tube/balloon was at the Dr's office after a Percocet.
Liquid in balloon was sucked out, then just a little tug and out it
came. I kept the little bugger. It cost $3000.

I had a week of antibiotic. We weren't sure if I had an infection or
not. Now, nipple is quite sore and red, but, at least it is there. I
apply vitamin-E oil on the breast every night.

Surgeon put in my porta-cath at the same time as the tube/ballon, so
sleeping is tough since both sides are touchy. My right jugular is pa
little swollen & makes my neck stiff. I can't lay on either side, so
hubby is making me sleep on the couch. Seems that's the only place I
find comfortable. Chemo (ac) starts next week.

I decided on Mamosite because left breast involvment and traditional
radiation would do damage to already not-great lung & other
unnecessary damage to good tissue. And, a treatment every day for 6-8
weeks would have been tough to hang with through the holidays.

I couldn't do the multi-plane implants because I'm alergic to
shellfish and they have to inject "contrast" that is high in iodine.
They suspected that I would have an alergic reation to the "contrast".
The reacion could have been counter-acted with steriods, but that was
a path I've been down before & I don't like it's effects.

After the "cyst" that was removed was found to be cancer, I had my
hip-length hair cut really, really, really short. I knew that going
through all the medical stuff would a pain while trying to take care
of the long hair.

I've had to bath with Dial anit-bacterial soap. This stuff dries my
skin out so bad, I felt like a prune. I bought some of those bathing
cloths like they use in the hospital. After the sink bath with the
Dial, I would use the cloths. They had enough lotion in them to keep
my skin from drying so badly.

I'm medically challenged, so I feel like I'm doing ok for now. I have
Muga scan & PET scan this week then I start chemo next week.
Hi-ho-hi-ho, off I gooooo....

Gentle hugs & good luck.
bgg