Brachytherapy (brak-e-THER-uh-pee), sometimes called internal radiation therapy, is a form of radiation therapy used to treat many different types of cancers. It has been proven to be very effective and safe, providing a good alternative to surgical removal of the tumor, while reducing the risk of certain long-term side effects.
It works by placing a radioactive source directly in or next to the cancerous tumor, delivering radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink the tumor. Because brachytherapy delivers radiation precisely to the treatment area, the risk of hurting nearby organs or healthy tissue is reduced. The overall treatment time may be shorter, as a larger dose of radiation can be delivered safely at one time.
Brachytherapy may be done alone or in combination with other cancer treatments depending on the location and severity of the tumor. For example, brachytherapy may be used with external radiation therapy, a form of radiation where high-energy x-ray beams are aimed at the tumor from outside the body. It may also be used following surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells.
