Brachytherapy

Brachytherapy is a procedure that involves placing radioactive material inside your body. Brachytherapy is one type of radiation therapy that's used to treat cancer. Brachytherapy is sometimes called internal radiation. Brachytherapy, or internal radiation therapy, treats prostate, breast, head and neck, and other cancers. Doctors place tiny radioactive pellets inside or next to the tumor. The pellets give off radiation that destroys cancer cells. The treatment spares surrounding healthy tissue and organs. Brachytherapy isn’t used for cancers that have spread.

Brachytherapy is a form of radiation therapy used to treat various cancers. Treatment involves surgically placing radioactive seeds, capsules or other implants directly in or near the cancerous tumor.

The implants give off radiation for a short time. Radiation from brachytherapy targets cancerous tissue, sparing healthy, surrounding tissue. Brachytherapy is also called internal radiation therapy.

Radioactive materials implanted inside or next to the tumor emit a prescribed dose of radiation. Radiation destroys or damages the genetic makeup of cancer cells.

Brachytherapy is a highly effective treatment for certain types of cancer. It’s most effective on cancers that haven’t spread or metastasized. Internal radiation therapy takes place inside the body. Compared to external radiation therapy, brachytherapy targets just the tumor, sparing nearby healthy tissue and organs. Most side effects improve as the radiation leaves your body.