A new cancer killer

A new cancer killer

Dr. Paul Okunieff talks about the new Intrabeam system./Photo by Jesse S. Jones

Paul Okunieff, M.D., chair of the UF department of radiation oncology and director of the UF Shands Cancer Center, explains the new Intrabeam system to a crowd gathered after a Nov. 12 ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the arrival of this latest treatment available at Shands at UF. The Intrabeam system is an intraoperative radiation technology available at fewer than 20 treatment centers nationwide. The system is the only one in the state of Florida. This new treatment dramatically shortens radiation therapy for early stage breast cancer patients, reducing treatments from traditionally three to six weeks to approximately 25 minutes during the surgical procedure.