Brachytherapy Technologies

The term “brachytherapy” comes from the Greek word “brachy,” meaning “close.” This treatment involves placing radiation directly inside or very close to the tumor in the body, allowing high doses of radiation to target cancer cells while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.

Brachytherapy uses radioactive sources or isotopes, which may be delivered in several ways:

• Radioactive seeds: Tiny seeds implanted directly into the tumor area (commonly used for prostate cancer).
• Injectable radiation: Radioactive substances injected into the bloodstream to target specific cancers.
• Oral radioactive treatments: Capsules or liquids that are swallowed to deliver radiation internally.

Some well-known examples of brachytherapy include:

• Prostate seed implants: Small radioactive seeds placed inside the prostate to treat prostate cancer.
• Xofigo (Radium-223): An intravenous radioactive therapy for bone metastases, often in prostate cancer.
• Pluvicto (Lutetium-177 based therapy): A targeted radioactive treatment for certain types of prostate cancer.

Because the radiation source is placed very close to or inside the tumor, brachytherapy offers a powerful and focused treatment option with fewer side effects compared to some external radiation methods.