Types and Uses of Brachytherapy
There are two main forms of brachytherapy. These include:
– Temporary brachytherapy: In this form, radiation is sent into the body through a thin, flexible tube called a catheter or needle. This tube should be inserted at the treated area and remain in the body for several hours or days.
– Permanent brachytherapy: In this procedure, your doctor will implant seeds, which contain radiation, into the body. These steel particles will stay in the body and release radiation over time. [3]
The main use of brachytherapy is to treat different forms of cancer. These include cancer in the bile duct, brain, breast, cervical, esophageal, endometria, eye, neck and head, pancreas, lung, skin, prostate, rectal, vagina, and soft tissues. Brachytherapy would be done alone or in combination with other cancer treatments. For example, this procedure may be done after surgery to get rid of any remaining cancer cells. Your doctor may also suggest it with external bream radiation for effective treatment. [4]
