Brachytherapy

Brachytherapy is an advanced cancer treatment that targets the tumor while reducing healthy tissue's exposure to radiation. Thin catheters are placed in the tumor and are connected to a machine that pushes highly radioactive “seeds” or sources in or around the tumor itself. These seeds release radiation to attack the tumor. This cutting edge procedure allows the tumor to be treated with greater accuracy and precision and only takes a few minutes for each treatment. After a series of treatments, the catheters and pellets are removed so that no seeds are left in the body. Brachytherapy is increasingly used to treat many types of cancer, including breast, prostate, lung, esophageal, gynecologic, anal/rectal, head and neck cancers and sarcomas.