What To Know
About Brachytherapy (A Type of Internal Radiation Therapy)
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To order free copies of this fact sheet, please call
1-800-422-6237 (1-800-4-CANCER).
About the treatment:
- Brachytherapy uses radiation to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors.
- The radiation source, which looks like seeds, ribbons, or wires, is put into your body.
Before treatment starts:
Here is what happens at most meetings.
You will:
- Talk about your health and medical history.
- Get a checkup (physical exam). You may also have tests to take pictures of the cancer.
- Learn how brachytherapy can help you.
- Learn about any side effects you may have. These differ depending on where the radiation is placed.
- Ask and get answers to all your questions before starting treatment.
During treatment:
- Your doctor will place a small holder, such as a thin tube called a catheter, into your body. It is placed in or near the cancer cells. Sometimes an applicator or a balloon attached to a thin tube is used.
- Then the seeds, ribbons, or wires are put inside the small holder so that the radiation can reach and destroy cancer cells.
- Depending on the type of implant you receive, the radiation source may stay in place for minutes, hours, or days. Or if you receive a permanent implant, it will not be taken out.
- See below to learn more about the type of brachytherapy that you will be getting.
Types of brachytherapy:
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Be sure to follow all special instructions from your doctor or nurse after these treatments.
Ask your doctor or nurse about side effects from this treatment. ![]() The side effects you may have depend on the part of your body being treated. ![]() There are fact sheets to help you learn how to manage side effects. |