Brachytherapy For Prostate Cancer

Brachytherapy is a new type of radiation that is also referred to as interstitial irradiation. The proper name is High-Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy, and this is a very aggressive form of radiation that is used to kill specific cancers. Patients who have been diagnosed with prostate, breast, cervical, tongue, rectal, and uterus cancer may be advised to undergo this type of radiation for the best results.

Brachytherapy is very advanced, as it places the radiation directly inside the tumor (inside your body) where it can go to work at the source of the problem. This type of radiation minimizes the risk to surrounding tissues while maximizing the effect on the tumor itself. Many patients opt for brachytherapy in lieu of surgical removal of the tumor and the prostate.

There are other perks to brachytherapy for prostate cancer. One is that it greatly reduces a patient's recovery time, and it decreases the chances of impotence and incontinence after treatment. The entire procedure takes roughly a day and a half, as opposed to up to seven weeks with other types of traditional radiation. A series of miniscule catheters are placed in and around the tumor, administering specific doses or radiation for the affected areas of the prostate.

Advanced Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer Treatment

Since the radiation dose is concentrated within the tumor, the healthy tissues surrounding the tumor are unaffected. Furthermore, patients do not have the worry of irritated skin or burning that is associated with external radiation treatments. Doctors often encourage that their patients opt for brachytherapy before other treatment therapies as it has proven to be very successful.