Internal Radiation
Internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy (close-up therapy) refers to treatment delivered with the use of radioactive sources or seeds, which are inserted into a natural body cavity or implanted into soft tissue. High-dose rate temporary implants and permanent prostate implants, partial breast irradiation (MammoSite®), and gynecologic implants for endometrial and cervical cancer are examples of brachytherapy. Some people may receive this type of treatment combined with external beam radiation. The advantage of brachytherapy is that the radiation dose is "concentrated in the tumor" and falls off rapidly as the distance from the tumor increases.
The common types of brachytherapy used are:
- High-Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy for GYN and other cancers;
- MammoSite® Partial Breast Irradiation; and,
- Prostate Seed Implant.