The word "Brachytherapy" comes from the Greek "brachy" meaning "close by" and "therapia", in this instance, referring to a radioactive source applied in or near the tumor.

What is Brachytherapy?
The brachytherapy treatment physician uses the microSelectron Remote Afterloading System developed by Nucletron. This system has been used extensively worldwide for over a decade and exceeds the most stringent safety requirements of physicians, physicists and regulatory agencies.

How long has brachytherapy been in use?
Shortly after Marie and Pierre Curie discovered radium in 1898, brachytherapy was first performed successfully to treat facial skin cancer. This was done by directly applying a radioactive material to the affected site. Within a few years, radioactive sources were being used internally via an applicator inserted into the body.

In the early to mid 1900s, the average low-dose rate brachytherapy treatment ranged from 40 to 70 hours and required prolonged hospitalization and bed rest. Today’s treatment techniques are more refined and physicians can choose different approaches to match each patient’s need.

HDR Brachytherapy
Alternatively, a radioactive source is placed inside a catheter in the tumour, and after a short duration of time, removed again. The time that the source stays inside the patient is dependent on how dosage needed to be delivered. Since the radioactive source is used for this technique, it is much stronger than the permanent seed implant technique. This technique is called ‘high dose rate brachytherapy’.

What Can I Expect During HDR Brachytherapy?
If you are a patient about to be treated for breast cancer with High Dose Rate Brachytherapy (HDR), or you have a family member or close friend about to be treated, there are probably some questions you want answered. We know that it is not always easy to take in all the information you are given by your physician at what is, undoubtedly, a stressful time, so we hope that the information that follows will help to put your mind at rest.

While each treatment procedure will be tailored to meet individual patient needs, the following are typical procedures you can expect during your treatment. The procedure is performed within the operating room using a local or general anesthesia. For the procedure you will have the treatment area cleaned and needles will be carefully inserted through the breast tissue.

When the needles are in place a catheter tubing is threaded through the needles. The needles are then removed leaving a very soft flexible catheter tube in the tissue. The number of catheters will vary depending on the treatment. As soon as the catheters are in position and immobilized, X-rays will be taken to verify the position of the catheters and to assist the physician in defining precisely where the radiation will be delivered. The COMFORT^TM catheter system was recently developed to improve the patient's comfort.

While you are being prepared for treatment, the X-rays will be utilized to optimize the 3 dimensional breast volume and generate your individualized treatment times. When the prescription is finalized and the microSelectron-HDR remote afterloader is programmed with your individualized treatment, you will be brought to the Radiation Oncology Department. The catheters are connected to the HDR machine, to enable the radiation source to deliver the treatment.

The hospital staff monitors your treatment and maintains constant communication with you. The treatment starts as the machine sends the radiation source into the applicator. You may hear the machine moving the source during treatment, but you will not feel anything.

It is important to remain still during the treatment that lasts only a few minutes. Upon completion of the treatment, the radiation source automatically returns to the protective storage unit of the HDR machine. The applicator is disconnected and may be removed.

Although the actual treatment takes only minutes, the entire procedure normally lasts a couple of hours from start to finish.

The hospital staff will review with you how to prepare for your upcoming treatments if they are to be performed on an outpatient basis. If the treatment is to be delivered over a period of a few days, you will return to your room following the first treatment. Remember you are not radioactive during or after the treatment.

The number of treatments is dependent on your physician's prescription. The physician will discuss this with you prior to your first treatment. You may go home directly after completion of your treatment and return to a normal routine immediately.

If you have further questions we advise you to go to your Doctor or Health care specialist so he/she can provide you with more detailed information regarding your treatment.