Table of Contents:
- What is brachytherapy?
- Why is it performed?
- What is brachytherapy?
- Preparation for brachytherapy
- Care after brachytherapy
What is brachytherapy?
Brachytherapy is a treatment that places radioactive sources inside the patient temporarily or permanently to damage the DNA of cancer cells and destroy their ability to reproduce, divide and grow. Brachytherapy allows the oncologist to use a high dose of radiation to treat an area in less time than conventional radiation therapy would. It can be used to treat a variety of cancers located throughout the body.
Brachytherapy is a local treatment
and treats only a specific part of the body.
Why is it performed?
Brachytherapy is a type of radiation therapy used to treat cancer. It uses ionizing radiation to kill cancer cells and thus shrink tumors.
It is used to treat cancers throughout the body, including:
- Prostate cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Head and neck cancer
- Skin cancer
- Breast cancer
- Gallbladder cancer
- Uterine cancer
- Vaginal cancer
- Lung cancer
- Colon and rectal cancer
What does brachytherapy consist of?
Brachytherapy can be temporary or permanent, and each one consists of a different process:
- Temporary brachytherapy: In this type of brachytherapy, highly radioactive material is inserted into a catheter for a specific time and then removed. It can be administered in low or high doses.
- Permanent brachytherapy: Also known as seed implantation, since seeds or pellets are inserted into or near the tumor to be left permanently. After a few months the radioactive level decreases until it disappears. The inactive seeds remain inside the body, with no effect on the patient.
Preparation for brachytherapy
The physician expert in oncology and radiotherapy will determine the necessary preparation prior to brachytherapy, but it may include intestinal preparation, ultrasound or Nuclear Magnetic Resonance tests, blood tests, electrocardiogram or chest x-ray, among others.
Care after brachytherapy
After brachytherapy, although the radioactivity of the seeds, in the case of permanent brachytherapy, decays rapidly, there are certain recommendations to limit close contact with other people, especially children and pregnant women. Also, for a few weeks or months the patient could release small doses of radiation and, on very occasional occasions, could be recognized by airport metal detection systems. It is advisable to carry a note explaining the treatment.
On the other hand, after brachytherapy the patient may notice tenderness and swelling in the treated area. However, patients can return to work within days or weeks after the procedure.
The expert physician will recommend follow-up sessions, which are important to determine whether the health condition is stable or has undergone changes. This will also allow the doctor to be aware of possible side effects.