Brachytherapy

Brachytherapy is the process of placing a radioactive substance close to a tumor either through a body cavity or an incision in the skin. This high dose of radiation placed in or near the tumor increases the chance of killing the tumor while sparing healthy surrounding tissues. Some radiation sources are considered high dose rate (HDR) and are placed in the body for short periods of time before removal, while others are considered low dose rate and are left to decay naturally in the body. Brachytherapy is most often used for certain patients with lung, vaginal/cervical, prostate or liver cancers, and your doctor shares the type of brachytherapy most appropriate for your treatment.