Download Brachytherapy Definition Brachytherapy is a type of radiation

Brachytherapy Definition Brachytherapy is a type of radiation therapy. Also known as internal radiation therapy, it involves putting radioactive seeds or materials in or near the cancer. Brachytherapy allows higher doses of radiation to be targeted directly at the tumor while reducing the radiation exposure to surrounding tissues, compared with radiation projected from outside the body. It typically causes fewer side effects than external beam radiation and the overall treatment time is shorter. Brachytherapy can be used in the treatment of prostate, breast, lung, esophageal, gynecologic, anal/rectal, and head and neck cancers. Procedure for Prostate Cancer During brachytherapy, the patient is put under anesthesia and thin catheters are inserted through the perineum – the area between the anus and the scrotum ‐ into the prostate at several locations. Wires containing radiation pellets or “source” are fed through the catheters into the prostate and connected to a machine that is computer‐controlled to determine exactly where and how long the radiation source should pause to release radiation. The procedure typically takes several minutes and then the wires are removed. The catheters are left in place and the patient is prohibited from sitting up until a second treatment can be administered the next day. The catheters are then removed, no radiation is left in the body, and the patient can usually go home that day. Sometimes the treatments are repeated a week or two later. Advantages Brachytherapy sometimes will not require an overnight hospital stay. In other cases, it may necessitate a one‐night stay. Most men can return to their normal activities several days after treatment. There is typically less damage to the blood vessels and nerves that control erections compared to most other cancer treatments. Since the patient is under anesthesia for a shorter period of time compared to open surgery, the recovery time from anesthesia is shorter. Disadvantages Regular follow‐up examinations are necessary to ensure the treatment was successful. Side effects Side effects may develop over the days to weeks following treatment. They subsequently improve usually in the weeks to months following the procedure. Some side effects patients may experience: Blood‐stained urine and discolored semen for a few days or weeks following the procedure. Bruising and pain in the perineum, which may spread to the inner thighs and penis before disappearing in a week or two. Discomfort when urine is passed and needing to urinate frequently, especially at night. Difficulty passing urine, erection and bowel problems, and tiredness.