Brachytherapy is a procedure that involves placing radioactive material inside your body to treat cancer. It allows your doctor to use a higher total dose of radiation to treat a smaller area in in a shorter period of time than conventional external beam radiation therapy (EBRT).

This procedure is shown to be effective in combination with external beam radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The accurate delivery of radiation directly to the tumour inside the body reduces the risks of side effects.

Brachytherapy can be given over a short period of time – often a matter of day and is an established, treatment. However, it is continually being advanced with the very latest technology to provide even more effective treatment.

What is High Dose Rate Brachytherapy (HDR)?
In HDR, applicators are placed in or adjacent to the cancer tissue after which a computer driven apparatus, called a remote afterloading device, pushes the radiation source through the catheters to the tumor site.

The source remains in place for a predetermined amount of time. When the desired dose has been achieved, the remote afterloading device withdraws the radioactive source.

For more information, please contact our Cancer & Radiosurgery Centre.