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Treating Cancer Treatment Types Radiation Therapy Internal Radiation Therapy
Treating Cancer Treatment Types Radiation Therapy Internal Radiation Therapy
| Internal Radiation Therapy |
Radioactive Implants In contrast to external radiation therapy, which is given by the machines described in the previous section, radioactive implantation often is referred to as internal radiation therapy, or “brachytherapy.” This involves the placement of radioactive sources into the body close to the cancer tissues. Many different kinds of radioactive sources are used, including iridium, cesium, palladium, and iodine. These sources often are placed in containers called capsules, needles, seeds, tandems, or ovoids, or are injected into the blood system. Other applicators may be used as well.Applicators containing the radioactive sources are usually implanted under local or general anesthesia. In the “old days,” patients undergoing implant procedures often required hospitalization for several days (usually less than one week), but with the advent of high-dose-rate (HDR) equipment and techniques, most patients today can return home the same day as the procedure. Should you need hospitalization, however, visitors will be restricted and you will be assigned a private room. We will briefly discuss several cancers for which implants are commonly performed. Many of these implant techniques were pioneered and developed by the FROG physicians and staff, and we remain leaders in the field of implant technique. |
