Brachytherapy is a type of treatment that has been around in excess of a century. Brachy is derived from the word for short. Brachy in the sense of cancer treatments is used to describe the distance between the pellets put in the body and the actual cancer.
As mentioned, Brachytherapy is a treatment for some types of cancer. The most common cancers to be treated this way are prostate, cervical, esophageal, lung, head and neck, sarcomas and breast.
This treatment involves inserting tiny rice sized pellets or seeds close to or on a tumor. Radiation is directed towards these seeds, then over time the seeds release radiation towards the tumor. Surrounding areas generally see no adverse or minimally adverse affects from the radiation.
Brachytherapy can be administered as high dose or low dose. Low dose treatments are preferred for low risk cancers. The pellets emit a low dose of radiation to the surrounding cancer for approximately one month before the seeds become inert. For high dose radiation, more than one treatment may be necessary. This is intended to target high-risk cancers and the levels of radiation are increased.
In order to place the seeds where necessary, the seeds may be inserted through the vagina or rectum, or a hollow needle may be used to place them. With some treatments, the seeds remain in place permanently. Other treatments involve removing the seeds.
Depending on the type and progression of the cancer, hundreds of seeds could be placed to fight the cancer. External Beam Radiation may be used alongside Brachytherapy to help increase the odds of getting rid of the cancer.
In some cases, Brachytherapy is used to avoid surgery or removal of the prostate, uterus, breast and more. The good part about this type of treatment is there aren't major side effects and most patients are given this treatment on an outpatient basis.
When done effectively, cancer cells are killed while healthy surrounding tissues remain healthy. Because of the various types of cancer, length of treatment will depend on the individual case. Follow your doctor's advice for the best chances of battling cancer.
As mentioned, Brachytherapy is a treatment for some types of cancer. The most common cancers to be treated this way are prostate, cervical, esophageal, lung, head and neck, sarcomas and breast.
This treatment involves inserting tiny rice sized pellets or seeds close to or on a tumor. Radiation is directed towards these seeds, then over time the seeds release radiation towards the tumor. Surrounding areas generally see no adverse or minimally adverse affects from the radiation.
Brachytherapy can be administered as high dose or low dose. Low dose treatments are preferred for low risk cancers. The pellets emit a low dose of radiation to the surrounding cancer for approximately one month before the seeds become inert. For high dose radiation, more than one treatment may be necessary. This is intended to target high-risk cancers and the levels of radiation are increased.
In order to place the seeds where necessary, the seeds may be inserted through the vagina or rectum, or a hollow needle may be used to place them. With some treatments, the seeds remain in place permanently. Other treatments involve removing the seeds.
Depending on the type and progression of the cancer, hundreds of seeds could be placed to fight the cancer. External Beam Radiation may be used alongside Brachytherapy to help increase the odds of getting rid of the cancer.
In some cases, Brachytherapy is used to avoid surgery or removal of the prostate, uterus, breast and more. The good part about this type of treatment is there aren't major side effects and most patients are given this treatment on an outpatient basis.
When done effectively, cancer cells are killed while healthy surrounding tissues remain healthy. Because of the various types of cancer, length of treatment will depend on the individual case. Follow your doctor's advice for the best chances of battling cancer.
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