Brachytherapy is an advanced cancer treatment where radioactive seeds or sources are placed in or near the tumour. This gives a high radiation dose to the tumour while reducing the radiation exposure in the surrounding healthy tissues.
History of the technology:
The term 'brachytherapy' is derived from the Greek word for ‘short,’ (brachy) which refers to the, “distance between the therapeutic agent and the target lesion.”
Commonly used to treat accessible tumours with radium
New sources, techniques, technology and physician/ patient exposure
Accepted as a useful treatment option
Brachytherapy was the brainchild of Alexander Graham, describing the concept of inserting a radioactive source into the prostate as an alternative to radiation therapy, proposed in a letter wrote in the 1890’s. In 1970 the field advanced greatly due to the work of Hilaris and Whitemore, …show more content…
HDR brachytherapy is commonly used to treat cancer in the cervix, lungs, breast and prostate.
Permanent brachytherapy, uses low intensity radiation, which is placed near or in the tumor permanently. This uses a seed about the size of a rice grain which is planted near the tumor to kill the cancer. This is usually used in prostate, gynecological, head and neck cancers.
Electronic brachytherapy, (EBT) is one of the newest forms of Brachytherapy, using the radiation generated from an x-ray tube to treat the cancer. The advantage of using this form of treatment is that the patient does not have to be treated in a vault and since the device containing the x-ray tube surrounds the tumor, making the treatment highly effective. This is mainly used in skin cancer.
Brachytherapy treats many areas of the body such as:
¥ Prostate
¥ Cervix
¥ Head and neck
¥
History of the technology:
The term 'brachytherapy' is derived from the Greek word for ‘short,’ (brachy) which refers to the, “distance between the therapeutic agent and the target lesion.”
Commonly used to treat accessible tumours with radium
New sources, techniques, technology and physician/ patient exposure
Accepted as a useful treatment option
Brachytherapy was the brainchild of Alexander Graham, describing the concept of inserting a radioactive source into the prostate as an alternative to radiation therapy, proposed in a letter wrote in the 1890’s. In 1970 the field advanced greatly due to the work of Hilaris and Whitemore, …show more content…
HDR brachytherapy is commonly used to treat cancer in the cervix, lungs, breast and prostate.
Permanent brachytherapy, uses low intensity radiation, which is placed near or in the tumor permanently. This uses a seed about the size of a rice grain which is planted near the tumor to kill the cancer. This is usually used in prostate, gynecological, head and neck cancers.
Electronic brachytherapy, (EBT) is one of the newest forms of Brachytherapy, using the radiation generated from an x-ray tube to treat the cancer. The advantage of using this form of treatment is that the patient does not have to be treated in a vault and since the device containing the x-ray tube surrounds the tumor, making the treatment highly effective. This is mainly used in skin cancer.
Brachytherapy treats many areas of the body such as:
¥ Prostate
¥ Cervix
¥ Head and neck
¥