Brachytherapy is a type of internal radiation therapy cancer treatment that allows a higher dose of radiation in a more limited area than can be accomplished with external radiation treatment.
In brachytherapy for prostate cancer, radiation is delivered directly in or next to the cancerous tumor via a radioactive implant, which may be temporary or permanent. Implants called pellets, seeds, wires, needles, capsules, ribbons, balloons, or tubes, are placed close to or inside the tumor so the radiation has a minimal effect on normal, healthy cells.
6 Short-Term Side Effects of Brachytherapy
After the implant is placed, short-term side effects after brachytherapy for prostate cancer may include:
- Swelling, bruising, bleeding, or pain and discomfort at the spot where the radiation was delivered
- Urinary symptoms, including incontinence or pain during urination
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Rectal bleeding
- Erectile dysfunction (impotence)
6 Long-Term Effects of Brachytherapy
There may be some long-term effects of brachytherapy for prostate cancer, such as:
- Difficulty urinating
- Urine leakage
- Erectile dysfunction (impotence)
- Frequent or loose stools
- Rectal inflammation, which can result in feeling a need to strain to pass a bowel movement, even if you don’t need to go
- Bladder or rectal cancer
- A small number of men may develop bladder or rectal cancer after brachytherapy for prostate cancer
How Do Doctors Perform Brachytherapy?
Brachytherapy implants are inserted through a small catheter or a larger device called an applicator. The procedure is generally performed in a hospital setting where the radiation is kept inside the room.
The patient receives anesthesia of some sort (general or local) and the catheter or applicator is moved into position. Once the catheter or applicator is in place, the radiation source is positioned and may be kept in place for minutes, days, or permanently. The length of the placement depends on the type of radiation source, the type of cancer being treated, the location of cancer in the body, the patient’s health, and other cancer treatments that may have been used.
Techniques for placing brachytherapy include:
- Interstitial brachytherapy
- The radiation source is placed in or near the tumor, but not in a body cavity
- This technique is often used for prostate cancer
- Intracavity brachytherapy
- The radiation source is placed within a body cavity or a cavity created by surgery
What Are the Types of Brachytherapy?
There are three types of brachytherapy:
- Low-dose rate (LDR) implants
- The radiation source remains in place for 1 to 7 days and patients are usually hospitalized for this time
- When treatment is complete, the radiation source and the catheter or applicator is removed
- High-dose rate (HDR) implants
- The radiation source is left in place for 10 to 20 minutes at a time and then removed
- Treatments may be given twice a day for 2 to 5 days or once a week for 2 to 5 weeks, depending on the type of cancer being treated
- A catheter or applicator may remain in place, or it may be put in place before each treatment
- Patients may be in the hospital during this time or they may go to the hospital each day receive treatments
- When treatment is complete, the catheter or applicator is removed
- Permanent implants
- When the radiation source is inserted, the catheter is removed
- Implants remain in the patient’s body for life, but the radiation gets weaker as time goes on
- Initially, patients may need to limit time around other people and take other safety measures to avoid exposing others to radiation, especially children and pregnant women
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https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/radiation-therapy/brachytherapy
https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/treatment-types/radiation/internal-radiation-therapy-brachytherapy.html
https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/diagnosis-treatment/cancer-treatments/radiation-therapy/what-brachytherapy
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/prostate-cancer/treatment/radiotherapy/brachytherapy/long-term-side-effects