Procedures

Brachytherapy Treatment

Brachytherapy sometimes referred to as implants or internal radiation is a radiation treatment method capable of delivering a higher dose than external beam radiation can deliver. Brachytherapy involves insertion of sealed radioactive sources either directly into the patient’s tumor, known as the interstitial method, or into a body cavity close to the tumor, known as the intracavitary method. This approach is used for treatment of gynecological, prostate, breast, head and neck, lung, and esophageal cancers as well as sarcomas.

Prostate Implants

In addition to various types of external beam radiation, Prostate Cancer may be treated one of two types of brachytherapy- Permanent Seed Implants (PSI) and Temporary High Dose Rate Implants (HDR). Prostate seed implantation is the process by which tiny radioactive “seeds” of iodine-125 are permanently implanted into the prostate. Ultrasound guidance computed tomography and advanced computerized implant treatment planning enable the placement of radioactive seeds with a high degree of accuracy. This procedure is a particularly convenient form of treatment. HDR prostate implants, also known as temporary seed implants, differ from PSI in that approximately 20 removable catheters are placed into the prostate under ultrasound guidance. A tiny robotically and computer-controlled iridium source can be moved in the catheters within the prostate. This allows a high degree of control and precision in delivering radiation to the prostate. This procedure is usually combined with a shortened course of external radiation.

High-dose Rate Remote Afterloading (HDR) Brachytherapy

In contrast to low-dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy, which requires insertion of radioactive materials inside the body for long periods of time, high-dose rate brachytherapy treatment requires the radiation source to remain inside the body for only a few minutes. That’s because HDR brachytherapy uses a high-energy radiation iridium 192 source that is inserted within or directly next to cancerous tissue. Radiation Oncology Centers (ROC) physicians remove the sources as soon as the proper dose of radiation has been administered which ensures that you are not radioactive. Brachytherapy ensures maximum delivery of radiation where it is needed, with minimal effects on healthy surrounding tissue. Insertion of the radioactive source is commonly performed as an outpatient procedure. For some cancers, the entire procedure may take several hours to complete but the actual treatment may require only a few minutes. General/regional anesthesia or conscious sedation may also be required. Your radiation oncologist will inform you the type of anesthesia that is required to perform the brachytherapy procedure.

Breast Brachytherapy

Radiation therapy offers a woman with breast cancer safe and effective breast conservation therapy with minimal side effects. Breast conservation therapy consists of surgical removal of the cancerous tumor, followed by radiation therapy to further reduce the risk of recurrence. In addition to the most advanced 3-D conformal  radiotherapy, including IMRT, for the treatment of breast cancer, RAS Radiation Oncology Centers also offer breast brachytherapy which allows radiation oncologists to treat the lumpectomy site along with only a small rim of normal breast tissue and the entire course of breast radiotherapy is usually completed in 5 day. This method is effective in treating early breast cancer in properly selected patients. Your radiation oncologist can tell you if this treatment is suitable for you.