Brachytherapy is an accepted treatment method in the field of radiation therapy and cancer. In radiation treatment, the radioactive material is placed in direct contact of the tumour. It can also be p.....
Brachytherapy is an accepted treatment method in the field of radiation therapy and cancer. In radiation treatment, the radioactive material is placed in direct contact of the tumour. It can also be placed in direct contact with areas at risk after the tumour is removed. Integrated Brachytherapy Unit with remote controlled HDR is used for the treatment of various types of cancers including prostate, breast, lung, nasopharynx and cervical. It is a concept that integrates all the techniques of brachytherapy treatment.
Brachytherapy radiations are enclosed in a protective capsule or wire. It allows the ionising radiations to kill the surrounding tissues. It stops the cancerous cell to grow and divide into the intervals.
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Prostrate Cancer
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Cervix Cancer
Preparing for Brachytherapy
- The doctor will advise the patient on what preparations are to be done before the procedure as it varies greatly from one condition to another. Usually, it includes avoiding certain medications and an MRI or CT scan.
- The radiation oncologist evaluates the patient, and after that, he/she determines the appropriate therapy that is required by the patient.
- The oncologist evaluates the exact size and site and accordingly decides on the quantity of radiation to be focused.
During the procedure
- Depending on the site of the incision to be made, the patient will receive a slight anaesthesia to numb the area for incision.
- The needle, filled with radioactive seeds, is inserted into the tumour. After the insertion, the needle or device is removed. This process leaves the radioactive seeds behind.
- Few additional imaging tests such as MRI or CT scan may be required to verify the positioning of the radioactive seed.
After the treatment
- The physician will give the patient specific post-procedure care instructions but the patient will be allowed to go home after the therapy is complete.
- The patient may experience slight inflammation or tenderness at the site of treatment. Usually, the patient receiving Brachytherapy are able to get back to the normal routine in few weeks or months.
- It is important to keep the visits to the physician regular, as he/she will decide on monitoring basis that the condition is stable or has changed. This also gives the patient an opportunity to discuss the side effects, if any.
Brachytherapy is used as a standalone treatment for cancer. It may be used with chemotherapy or external radiation for curing cancer. There are lots of benefits of using brachytherapy for the treatment of cancer, but it has its own risks too, which the patient should know.
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Radiation protection. Short treatment times Reduces risk of infection. Minimal risk of side effects. Shorter recovery times. Decreased frequency of hospital visits.
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Radiobiological disadvantage. Side effects are specific to the area that is treated. Tenderness and swelling for some time.
With 0.5mm source positioning accuracy and an intuitive user interface, the technology at Medanta offers an optimised treatment delivery process. The latest technology of Brachytherapy reduces the workflow complexity and ensures the safety of the patient. The reference ‘zero’ is located at the entrance of the applicator for easy usage. The radiologist can simply start counting at the beginning – there’s no need to measure the tip.
