CET Cancer Center, High Dose Rate (hdr) Brachytherapy Specialist with 25 years of experience
310-206-2510
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As of January 4, 2010 Dr. Demanes and the program have relocated to UCLA.

Cancer Resources & Links


Cancer Resources & Links Menu

Dilemmas in External Beam Radiation

Useful Cancer Resources & Links


Back to TopSeeds Migration Issue

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Back to TopProstate Cancer Resources and Links

  • Prostate Cancer Foundation: An organization dedicated to finding a cure for prostate cancer.

  • Prostate Pointer Seed Pods: A mailing list offering information and support for those interested in brachytherapy for prostate cancer

  • US TOO: A grassroots organization founded by prostate cancer survivors to help cancer survivors, their spouses/partners and families. The organization offering counseling and support groups.

  • Medline Plus: Prostate Cancer Page: Prostate cancer resource from U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health providing latest news, over view of the the decease, diagnosis/symptoms, treatments information, prevention/screening information, etc

  • National Cancer Institute: Prostate Cancer Page:  A comprehensive site maintained by the National Cancer Institute, provides quick access to current information on prostate cancer. Information on this page is continually reviewed and revised by experts.  

  • Prostate Cancer Research Institute (PCRI): Offering education, news letter and support for prostate cancer patients.

Back to TopGynecologic Cancer Resources and Links

  • Eyes on the prize: A web community providing information, expeirence, resources, support and company to gynecologic cancer patients.

  • MedLine Plus: Cervical cancer page, Vaginal cancer page, Uterine cancer page, Vulvar cancer page: Gynecologic cancer resource from U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institures of Health providing latest news, over view of the the decease, diagnosis/symptioms, treatments information, prevention/screening information, etc

Back to TopBreast Cancer Resources and Links

  • The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation: The oldest brest cancer foundation, founded in 1982 in memory of Susan G. Komen who died of breast cancer at the age of 36, offering educations and supports for patients diagnosis with breast cancer.

  • Breast Cancer Research Foundation: A non-profit organization, located in NY, who raise money to fund breast cancer research worldwide.

  • Breast Cancer Action: Local support organizaiton in San Francisco and Bay Area

  • Breastcancer.org: A nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the most reliable, complete, and up-to-date information about breast cancer.

  • Living Beyond Breast Cancer: A nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering all women affected by breast cancer to live as long as possible with the best quality of life.

  • Voices of Mammosite: A website devoted to the thousands of extraordinary women who have confronted the challenges of breast cancer and have fought it successfully with MammoSite® 5-Day Targeted Radiation Therapy.

  • Mediline Plus: Breast Cancer Page: A service of that U.S. National Library of Medcine and the National Institutes of Health proivce Breast Cancer latest news, Diagnosis/Symptoms, Treatment, Preventing/Screening, Picture/Diarams, etc.

  • National Breast Cancer Foundation: A nonprofit organization founded by a breast cancer surivivor, Janelle Hail, aim to fight breast cancer by increasing awareness of breast cancer through education and by providing mammograms for those in need.

  • National Cancer Institute; Breast Cancer Page: A comprehensive site maintained by the National Cancer Institute, provides quick access to current information on breast cancer. Information is continually reviewed and revised by experts.

  • Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization: Non-profit organization offering support service such as; 24-hours hotline, Survivor Match Program, Partner Match Program, A Day for you and Friends of Ann and Mimi, Wig and Prothesis Bank, ShareRing Network and Education about Breast cancer cure.

Back to TopCancer Resources and Links

  • St. Luke's Hospital Wellness Watch: St. Luke Education program offer stream video of education about HDR Brachytherapy including interview with HDR Brachytherapy patients.

  • American Cancer Society: is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.

  • National Cancer Institute: The U.S. National Institute of Health's cancer research wing

  • Cancer Help Online: Links to Thousands of Cancer Related Sites



Printable Material







Back to TopGeneral Frequently Asked Questions


1. What is Brachytherapy?


The prefix "brachy" is the Greek word for "short" distance. Brachytherapy is a form of internal radiation treatment where radioactive sources are placed on or into cancer tissues. There are two kinds of brachytherapy. The radiation sources may be inserted either permanently or temporarily. The two most common forms of treatment are low dose rate (LDR) permanent seeds for prostate cancer and high dose rate (HDR) temporary brachytherapy, that can be used for prostate, gynecologic, breast, head and neck, lung, esophageal, bile duct, anorectal, sarcoma, and other cancers.

2. What is high dose rate (HDR) Brachytherapy?


High dose rate (HDR) is a technically advanced form of brachytherapy. A high intensity radiation source is delivered with millimeter precision under computer guidance directly into the tumor killing it from the inside out while avoiding injury to surrounding normal healthy tissue. For a more in depth explanation please visit the understanding HDR Brachytherapy page.

3. How does radiation kill cancer?


Cancer is made of abnormal cells that tend to grow without control. Cancer DNA is more sensitive to radiation than are normal cells, so radiation kills cancer directly or when the cells attempt to multiply while normal tissue in the region is able to repair and recover.


4. What are the advantages of HDR Brachytherapy?

  • Short course of treatment compared to other types of radiation treatment (1 week)
  • Preservation of organ structure and function
  • Fewer side effects
  • Excellent coverage of possible microscopic extension of cancer
  • Knowledge of radiation dose distribution before treatment is given
  • Accuracy and precision of tumor specific radiation dose delivery
  • Minimizes areas of radiation overdose (hot spots) or underdose (cold spots)
  • Organ motion (target movement) is not a problem for HDR as it is with external beam
Prostate Specific
Breast Specific
  • Conserves the breast and yields excellent cosmetic results
  • Reduces radiation dose to the heart, lungs, and opposite breast
  • Doesn't cause a delay in other treatments such as chemotherapy

For more information on the advantages for specific cancer sites please click on the appropriate link below:
Prostate cancer | Breast Cancer | Gynecologic Cancer | Head & Neck Cancer
Esophageal and Bile Duct Cancer | Lung Cancer | Soft Tissue Sarcoma Cancer

5. How successful is HDR Brachytherapy?


HDR Brachytherapy is effective treatment of local disease in many forms of cancer including prostate, gynecological, breast, head and neck, esophagus, lung, anorectal, bile duct, sarcoma, and other primary cancer or localized metastasis as reported in medical literature. CET's publication on prostate cancer, for example has demonstrated 90% 10-year tumor control. Success rates for other tumors vary according to the type and stage of cancer being treated.

6. How many treatments has CET administered?


As of 10/31/2009, CET has performed 10,217 HDR implants and delivered 21,747 HDR treatments. Please see our treatment statistics for further details.

7. Why is HDR less well known than other forms of cancer treatment?


HDR Brachytherapy is a relatively new form of advance radiation technology. Fewer physicians have been trained to perform HDR procedures compared to seed implants or external beam radiation. Few centers, other than CET have been dedicated to the development of HDR brachytherapy to its full potential. Dr. Demanes has devoted his career to the advancement of brachytherapy and has pioneered the use of HDR and established CET as a center of excellence with specially trained and experienced staff and physicians.

8. Why should I select CET?

Please see CET Advantage for more information.


Back to TopAbout Us

Membership and affiliations
American Society for Therapeutic Radiology And Oncology
Chair - Health Policy and Economics Practice Management Subcommittee,
Chair - Regulatory Subcommittee, Member - Health Policy and Economic Committee,
Member - Health Policy and Economics Code Development and Valuation Subcommittee,
Member - Code Utilization and Application Subcommittee.
American Brachytherapy Society
Chair
- Socioeconomic Committee.
American College of Radiation Oncology
President - 2005 to 2007
American College of Radiology
Fellow - 2007