Internal radiation therapy for treating cancer is also known as brachytherapy. The procedure involves placing the radioactive material into or near the cancer site to kill the cancerous cells. Brachytherapy is used in treating various cancers, such as cancers of the brain, breast, thyroid, eye, uterus, gallbladder, skin, head and neck, rectal, prostate, and lungs. The advantages of brachytherapy include an optimal dose at the target site and minimal damage to the surrounding tissues.
The types of brachytherapy implants are:
The patient undergoing brachytherapy may require the following:
The patients should strictly follow the advice of the healthcare provider. They should take adequate rest and limit their activity. It is important to take advice from the doctor about interacting with others. It is important to avoid interaction with young children or pregnant women for the period decided by the healthcare provider.