When is brachytherapy used?
Like other types of radiation therapy, brachytherapy is used to eliminate microscopic cancer cells left behind after surgery or to treat cancerous tumors from inside the body. Its goal is to kill cancerous cells and prevent the cancer from returning. It is often used to fight cancer of the: • Breast • Cervix • Vagina • Endometrium • Head • Neck • Prostate • Lungs What can I expect during a treatment session? Prior to any treatment session, your physician may order blood tests, an electrocardiogram or chest X-rays. In order to plan the treatment, your physician may take images (X-rays, ultrasound or CT scans) to establish the correct positioning. A computer will calculate the correct dose amount and time needed to treat the tumor. On the day of your scheduled treatment, you will be given an anesthetic through an intravenous line in your arm or hand. Your physician will determine if a sedative to make you drowsy will be sufficient or if you will receive a general anesthetic. With permane
