As technology advances, a powerful source of energy to damage or kill cancer cells is Radiation therapy. As one of the cancer treatments, it helps shrink tumours and helps lower risk of the cancer. With increasing demand for effective and minimally invasive prostate cancer treatments, brachytherapy has become a preferred option for many patients and clinicians.
Lets understand What is Brachytherapy? Brachytherapy is an advanced form of cancer treatment that delivers radiation directly inside or very close to the tumour. It is widely used in the UK for treating prostate cancer, offering a highly targeted approach that minimises damage to surrounding healthy tissues.
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What is Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer?
Brachytherapy, also known as Internal Radiation Therapy, involves placing radioactive material directly into or near the prostate gland. This allows doctors to deliver a high dose of radiation precisely where it is needed, improving treatment outcomes while reducing side effects.
Brachytherapy is commonly recommended for:
- Localised prostate cancer
- Early-stage disease
- Patients seeking less invasive alternatives to surgery
Why choose Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer?
This approach is often part of a personalised prostate cancer treatment plan, sometimes combined with external radiotherapy or hormone therapy.
- Highly targeted treatment
- Reduced exposure to surrounding organs
- Shorter recovery time compared to surgery
- Effective cancer control rates
What are the benefits of Brachytherapy?
Brachytherapy is a highly targeted treatment that delivers radiation directly to the tumour, minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissues and improving overall outcomes. This minimally invasive procedure with faster recovery and fewer side effects, making it a preferred option for many patients with localised prostate cancer.
- Highly precise treatment targeting only cancerous tissue
- Reduced side effects compared to external radiotherapy
- Minimally invasive procedure with less discomfort
- Shorter treatment duration and hospital stay
- Faster recovery time and quicker return to daily activities
- Lower risk of infection compared to some surgical options
- Effective cancer control rates for early-stage prostate cancer
What is Brachytherapy Seed?
Brachytherapy seeds are tiny radioactive pellets, usually the size of a grain of rice, implanted into the prostate. These seeds emit radiation over a specific period to destroy cancer cells.
There are different types of Brachytherapy Seeds:
- Permanent seeds (Low-Dose Rate – LDR):
- Remain in the prostate and gradually lose radioactivity over time
- Temporary seeds (High-Dose Rate – HDR):
- Placed for a short duration and then removed
Brachytherapy seeds play a crucial role in ensuring accurate and effective internal radiation therapy. Some of the benefits of Brachytherapy Seed are;
- Continuous radiation delivery
- Minimal hospital stay
- Precise targeting of cancer cells
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Is Internal Radiation Therapy and Internal Radiotherapy Same?
You might come across both Internal Radiation Therapy and Internal Radiotherapy across this article. But are they the same? Let’s understand this.
Internal radiation therapy and internal radiotherapy refers to the same concept: delivering radiation from within the body rather than externally.
Internal radiotherapy is widely used in prostate cancer care because it improves precision, reduces treatment duration, and enhances patient comfort.
Difference between Internal Radiotherapy & External Radiotherapy?
Internal radiotherapy differs from external radiotherapy in that the radiation source is placed directly inside or close to the tumour, allowing for highly targeted treatment. This approach minimises exposure to surrounding healthy tissues, reduces side effects, and often shortens treatment time compared to external radiotherapy, where radiation is delivered from outside the body over multiple sessions.
| Internal Radiotherapy | External Radiotherapy |
|---|---|
| Radiation placed inside the body | Radiation delivered from outside |
| Highly targeted | Broader exposure |
| Fewer side effects | Higher risk to surrounding tissues |
Brachytherapy Procedure for Prostate Cancer
The brachytherapy procedure for prostate cancer is a carefully planned and image-guided treatment carried out by a specialist urology and oncology team. Let us dive into the step-by-step Brachytherapy procedure for prostate cancer:
- Pre-Treatment Planning
- Imaging tests such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or ultrasound. Check the best ultrasound for prostate imaging.
- Prostate mapping for accurate seed placement
- Anaesthesia
- Usually performed under general or spinal anaesthesia
- Seed Placement
- Thin needles are inserted through the perineum
- Radioactive seeds are placed precisely into the prostate
- Post-Procedure Monitoring
- Short recovery period
- Most patients return home the same day or next day
- Recovery:
- Minimal downtime
- Gradual return to normal activities
- Follow-up PSA tests to monitor progress
Brachytherapy is gaining popularity across the UK due to its clinical effectiveness and patient-friendly approach.
Conclusion
Brachytherapy is a highly effective form of internal radiotherapy that offers precise, targeted treatment for prostate cancer. With its minimally invasive approach, reduced side effects, and strong clinical outcomes, it continues to play a vital role in modern prostate cancer care across the UK.
If you are exploring advanced prostate cancer treatment options, consulting a specialist about brachytherapy can help you make an informed decision tailored to your needs.
FAQs
1. What is the purpose of brachytherapy?
The purpose of brachytherapy is to treat cancer by delivering radiation directly inside or close to the tumour. This targeted approach helps destroy cancer cells while minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissues, making it especially effective for localised cancers such as prostate cancer.
2. How painful is brachytherapy?
Brachytherapy is generally not painful, as the procedure is usually performed under general or spinal anaesthesia. Patients may experience mild discomfort, soreness, or temporary urinary symptoms after treatment, but these typically resolve within a few days.
3. What is the difference between radiation and brachytherapy?
Radiation therapy is a broad term that includes both external and internal treatments. Brachytherapy is a type of internal radiotherapy where the radiation source is placed inside the body, near the tumour. This allows for more precise targeting compared to external beam radiotherapy, which delivers radiation from outside the body.
4. How long does brachytherapy last?
The duration of brachytherapy depends on the type used. Low-dose rate brachytherapy involves permanent seeds that release radiation over several weeks or months, while high-dose rate brachytherapy delivers radiation in short sessions lasting a few minutes, usually over one or more treatments.
