Brachytherapy, or internal radiation, is a procedure where radioactive material is sealed inside a needle, seed, wire or catheter and placed directly into or near the tumor. The amount of radiation used in high dose rate brachytherapy (HDR) is higher than a typical radiation treatment, directly aimed at the tumor to prevent damaging healthy tissue.
HDR treatments are about one thousand times more active than low dose rate brachytherapy (LDR). This means they are faster: a treatment that traditionally has taken days now only takes minutes with HDR. This procedure may kill cancer cells in fewer treatments. A patient receiving HDR can be treated and then leave to recover in the comfort of their own home.
HDR can be applied to almost any part of the body, but is most commonly used for the treatment of gynecological malignancies. Many patients find this treatment to be less invasive on their everyday lives than LDR No hospitalization is required, the level of patient discomfort is minimized and radiation safety measures are now simplified. Because no radioactive material is left in the body, the patient can return home after the treatment.