6 more cases of botched cancer treatment at Pa. VA

6 more cases of botched cancer treatment at Pa. VA

Six more cases have been found of cancer patients being given incorrect radiation doses at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Philadelphia.

The errors happened in a common surgical procedure to treat prostate cancer.

That brings the total to 98 veterans who were given incorrect radiation doses over a six-year period at the hospital.

The program had treated 114 cancer patients before it was halted when the problem surfaced in 2008.

The cases involved brachytherapy, in which implanted radioactive metal seeds are used to kill cancer cells. Most veterans got far less than the prescribed dose while others received too much.

The newly reported cases have been forwarded to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission from The Department of Veterans Affairs.

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Information from: The Philadelphia Inquirer, http://www.philly.com

otched Prostate Cancer Treatment at Philly VA

Dr.Kao, a radiation oncologist, testified at a Senate field hearing at the hospital, that he "always acted in the best interest of the patients". However, under questioning from Sen. Arlen Specter, Dr. Kao acknowledged that he never informed patients when he missed the prostate or delivered insufficient doses which according to The Nuclear Regulatory Commission that occured in 92 of 116 men treated in the hospital's brachytherapy program. These prostate cancer patients "received incorrect doses of the radiation seeds, often because they landed in nearby organs or surrounding tissue rather than the prostate. Kao performed the majority of the procedures under a VA contract with the University of Pennsylvania, where he was on staff."

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AP Prostate Cancer Treatment Philadelphia VA Hospital