Cancer is a disease that has no known cure, but many treatment options available. Brachytherapy is a treatment that can be used on multiple forms of cancer. The word "brachy" is Greek and means short distance. Therapy is another name for treatment, so in essence, brachytherapy is a a short-distance treatment.
Function
Cancer of the breast, prostate and cervix often require their complete removal. Brachytherapy can be done to reduce long-term side effects of cancer and offer an alternative to surgical removal.
Prostate
According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer in men is second only to skin cancer. In permanent prostate brachytherapy, 60 to 120 rice-sized "seeds" are implanted into the prostate. Low doses of radiation are slowly released for a series of months to kill cancer cells while the seeds remain in the prostate.
HDR
High-dose-rate brachytherapy is often utilized on cervical cancer. This treatment involves the insertion of plastic tubes or needles into the body cavity or directly into the tumor itself. By remote control, radioactive material is sent into the tubes and left in place for several minutes. Multiple treatments are done over the course of a few days.
LDR
Ocular melanoma is a type of cancer that develops in the eyes. Low-dose-rate brachytherapy is often used to treat this form of cancer. Radioactive seeds are placed in a small case that is then sown onto the surface of the eye, where it emits radioactivity into the tumor below it. This type of treatment stays in place for a few days as opposed to a few minutes or forever.
Benefits
Brachytherapy can be used on its own or it can be used in conjunction with chemotherapy and other radiation treatments to enhance the effects. Being that brachytherapy places a higher amount of radiation directly into tumors, it can also increase the chances of destroying it and prevent nearby tissue from getting damaged.
Effects
Even though brachytherapy might be a good treatment option for cancer, side effects can still be seen. With seed implants in the prostate, you can experience blood in the urine, burning sensations in the scrotum, swelling and incontinence.
