Brachytherapy Overview
Millions of men and women will battle cancer in the United States each year. Radiation therapy—next to chemotherapy—is the most common method used in order to eradicate cancer cells and shrink tumors where high-energy x-ray beams generated by a machine are directed at the tumor from outside the body. Brachytherapy is a varying and more aggressive type of radiation in which a radioactive material is placed directly inside or next to the tumor allowing for a higher than normal dose of radiation while reducing the risk of damage to healthy tissue. The procedure, while used for many types of cancer, should be discussed in length with an oncologist to ensure the procedure is right for you.