Brachytherapy

FAQ

What kind of patients are candidates for brachytherapy?
In general, patients who have early-stage cancers may be considered for brachytherapy. It can be used alone or combined with other treatments, including external beam radiation and/or surgical resection. Radiation oncologists find it to be a safe and effective alternative to radical surgery for early cancers of the prostate and cervix. It is a preferred alternative to external radiation for some patients with endometrial cancer (those in whom the main risk for tumor regrowth after surgical removal of the uterus is the remaining upper vagina).

Is brachytherapy safe?
The majority of radiation given off by radioactive sources occurs immediately next to the source. The dose of radiation decreases rapidly away from the source. Once the sources are in place, the radiation dose to surrounding healthy tissues is very low.

Should contact with other people be avoided?
Patients who are treated with high dose rate brachytherapy do not become radioactive and do not need to avoid contact with other people following treatment. Patients treated with low dose rate brachytherapy may have limited contact with others while they are in the hospital with the implant in place. Once the implant is removed, they are no longer radioactive. Patients who have permanent implants or who are allowed to leave the hospital with a temporary implant in place may be given instructions to limit exposure to others even though the Nuclear Regulatory Commission requires no special precautions for these patients.

What side effects does brachytherapy cause?
Many patients have no side effects from brachytherapy. Treatment may cause inflammation and swelling to tissue around the tumor. This may result in various side effects depending upon the location of the tumor. These symptoms can last for a few days following high dose rate brachytherapy or may persist for several months following permanent seed implantation for prostate cancer. If the symptoms persist, a physician may prescribe medication.