Version July 2025
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What is brachytherapy? —
This is a type of cancer treatment. It uses high doses of X-rays, called radiation, to kill cancer cells. There are 2 types of radiation therapy, depending on where the source of the radiation is.
●"External-beam radiation therapy" – The radiation comes from a machine that is outside of the body.
●"Internal radiation therapy" – The radiation comes from a source, such as tiny seeds or capsules, that is put inside of the body. Brachytherapy is another name for internal radiation therapy.
In brachytherapy, a doctor puts the source of radiation into or right next to the cancer. The radiation affects only the cancer and the area right around it. The radiation does not affect other parts of the body.
There are 2 types of brachytherapy:
●Low-dose rate ("LDR") – A doctor puts the radiation source into the cancer and leaves it there. The source gives off radiation for weeks to months. After that, it doesn't give off any more radiation.
●High-dose rate ("HDR") – A doctor puts the radiation source into the cancer for a short time. This is often minutes, but it can vary based on the treatment. Then, they remove it from the body.
Doctors can use brachytherapy to treat different types of cancers. These often include cancers of the prostate (figure 1), cervix, and lining of the uterus (endometrium) (figure 2). Some people have brachytherapy along with external-beam radiation therapy or other cancer treatments.
What happens during brachytherapy? —
Your doctor will do a procedure to put the radiation source into your body:
●They will give you medicines to make you feel sleepy or numb. Sometimes, they will even put you completely to sleep, like they do for some types of surgery. The medicines you get depend on the location of the treatment and your other health issues.
●The doctor will put a thin tube into your body near the area with the cancer. Then, they will put the radiation through the tube and into the cancer.
•For LDR brachytherapy, the doctor will remove the tube and leave the radiation in place. You can go home after the procedure.
•For HDR brachytherapy, most people go home after the procedure. Occasionally, a person stays in the hospital. People get a certain number of radiation treatments, depending on their cancer. For each dose, the doctor puts the radiation through the tube and into the cancer. After a certain amount of time, they take the radiation out. They repeat this as many times as needed over days or weeks. The tube might stay in place for the whole treatment, or it might come out and go back in each time.
You might need to avoid other people, especially children or pregnant people, at certain times during treatment. That's because you can give off radiation when you have a source of radiation in your body. Your doctor or nurse will tell you if and when you need to stay away from other people.
What are the side effects of brachytherapy? —
People can have different side effects. They depend on the type of brachytherapy, the radiation dose, and the body part involved. Depending on your treatment, your doctor will tell you the side effects you are likely to have.
Common side effects from brachytherapy can include:
●Swelling inside the body in the area around the radiation
●Redness or soreness where the tube was put in on the outside of the body
Your doctor can treat the side effects in different ways, depending on your symptoms.
What else should I do? —
When you get brachytherapy, it's important to:
●Follow all your doctor's instructions about treatments and visits.
●Tell your doctor or nurse about any side effects or problems you have during treatment, or if your health changes.
●Take care of yourself by eating well, getting enough sleep, and exercising. To keep your energy up, try to eat foods and drinks with a lot of protein and calories.
Patient education: External beam radiation therapy (The Basics)
Patient education: Managing loss of appetite and weight loss with cancer (The Basics)
Patient education: Hair loss from cancer treatment (The Basics)
Patient education: Nausea and vomiting with cancer treatment (The Basics)
Patient education: When your cancer treatment makes you tired (The Basics)
Patient education: Managing pain when you have cancer (The Basics)
