Internal Radiation

With internal radiation (brachytherapy), radioactive material is inserted into the body either:

• Sealed in needles, seeds, wires or catheters placed directly into or near a tumor. Internal radiation allows a higher dose of radiation to a smaller part of your body. This treatment is known as Brachytherapy.
• Or by means of a liquid that you drink.

There are three types of brachytherapy:

• Low-dose rate (LDR) implants. In this type of brachytherapy, radiation stays in place for 1 to 7 days. You are likely to be in the hospital during this time. Once your treatment is finished, your doctor will remove the radiation sources and your catheter or applicator.
  
  
• High-dose rate (HDR) implants. In this type of brachytherapy, the radiation source is in place for 10 to 20 minutes at a time and then taken out. You may have treatment twice a day for 2 to 5 days or once a week for 2 to 5 weeks. The schedule depends on your type of cancer. During the course of treatment, your catheter or applicator may stay in place, or it may be put in place before each treatment. You may be in the hospital during this time, or you may make daily trips to the hospital to have the radiation source put in place. Like LDR implants, your doctor will remove your catheter or applicator once you have finished treatment. 
  
  
• Permanent implants. After the radiation source is put in place, the catheter is removed. The implants always stay in your body, while the radiation gets weaker each day. You may need to limit your time around other people when the radiation is first put in place. Be extra careful not to spend time with children or pregnant women. As time goes by, almost all the radiation will go away, even though the implant stays in your body.

Internal implants may be temporary or permanent. 

Please share how this information is useful to you. 0 Comments