Brachytherapy
What is Brachytherapy
- Brachytherapy is a treatment which delivers radiation therapy inside the body, directly to the tumor cells.
- The radiation is targeted to give a higher dose to the tumor while lessening its bad effect on healthy tissues around the tumor.
- Other terms used for brachytherapy are radiation implant or internal radiation therapy.
- Brachytherapy may be used to treat many kinds of cancer.
- It can be used along with other forms of cancer treatments including surgery, chemotherapy or external beam radiation therapy.
- The treatment can be given in several different ways and the duration can vary depending on the individual circumstance.
- Most of our patients receive the treatments on an out-patient basis in the clinic though some people may have it while in the hospital at the time of surgery. It could be given in one visit or in multiple visits over several days or weeks.
What happens during a Brachytherapy Treatment?
- Most radiation implants use a technique where hollow tubes or needles are placed into the tumor.
- Small radioactive pellets are then inserted through the tubes.
- The radiation works by killing areas of tumor within tissue that surrounds the tubes or needles.
- Other types of brachytherapy treatments are delivered through applicators (hollow tubes) that are placed inside the tumor.
How long will treatments take?
The length of treatment and what to expect depends on the type of brachytherapy you will be receiving. Most outpatient procedures take minutes to treat, but plan on being in the department for a few hours for complex procedures.
What are the different kinds of brachytherapy?
Brachytherapy offered at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara:
High Dose Rate Brachytherapy (HDR)
Other types of brachytherapy implants NOT offered at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara
HDR Coordinator
Lee Morris, RN, BSN
Comprehensive Cancer Treatment Center
Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara
(408) 851-8016
