Brachytherapy may be temporary or permanent. Your radiation oncologist will determine the treatment approach that is right for you.
With temporary brachytherapy, also known as high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR), the radiation oncologist places radioactive material inside a narrow tube that is inserted into the tumor for a specific amount of time and then removed. This procedure is typically done multiple times over the course of days.
Permanent brachytherapy, also known as low-dose-rate brachytherapy (LDR) or seed therapy, involves implanting small radioactive seeds about the size of a grain of rice in or near the tumor using a small needle. These seeds release radiation to the tumor over the course of several months and stay in place once the treatment is complete.
Both approaches involve the use of special imaging equipment such as ultrasound, Computerized Tomography (CT), and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to ensure the radioactive material is placed in the correct position.
Brachytherapy is typically performed as an outpatient procedure, which means you can go home after the procedure is complete. However, your healthcare team may decide to keep you at the hospital overnight for monitoring. It is important to discuss the procedure and recovery expectations with your doctor ahead of treatment.
