Brachytherapy is a procedure that places radioactive material inside your body. It is also known as internal radiation. Although this is not a standard therapy, it can be used for clinical trials. Brachytherapy consists of placing seeds, tiny rods that contain radiation, internally with the help of a CT scan. The seed will attack within a 1 cm radius around the tumor and can also be used in addition to surgery. The seeds can be placed permanently or temporarily. The goal is to get as close to the tumor as possible and harm as few healthy cells as possible. The less healthy tissues affected the less side effects experienced.
There are different types of brachytherapy including low dose or high dose and permanent or temporary brachytherapy. People with Mesothelioma usually receive low dose permanent brachytherapy. This type of therapy is not usually painful and if pain is experienced, it is usually at the insertion site where seeds were introduced. Temporary brachytherapy allows the seeds to be left in the body for about a week. The seeds will then be removed after the seeds have done their job. One of the negatives to this procedure is that you cannot have visitors for long periods of time. Patients usually are hospitalized and are placed in a private room. Low dose permanent brachytherapy is another alternative which leaves seeds in the body. This type of brachytherapy is the most successful for Mesothelioma in clinical trials. The implants are placed during surgery after a pleurectomy or a pneumonectomy in the operating room. The seeds release radiation for approximately three months but eventually stop omitting radiation to that particular tumor.
High dose brachytherapy uses thin catheters to access the tumor. The seeds are entered one by one into the tumor. A computer decides the time and place that the seed will be located and entered. This is done on an outpatient basis. During this procedure multiple doses can be given at different intervals. Patients may receive up to 12 separate high dose brachytherapy treatments over one or more weeks. This treatment is usually temporary and once treatment is finished the catheters are removed. Brachytherapy is given under anesthesia so therefore are some tests that need to be done to ensure the patient is a good candidate for this treatment. The tests that are performed are chest x-rays, blood test and electrocardiography. Ultrasound and CT scans also aide the physician to determine the size, exact location, and the extent of tumor. It provides more accuracy for the physician administering the brachytherapy seeds.
Brachytherapy is more targeted than traditional radiation and does not harm as many healthy cells. If you are interested in brachytherapy it will most likely be offered at a Mesothelioma Center of excellence. A great benefit of brachytherapy is that there are fewer side effects. Treatment and recovery time may be shorter for individuals receiving this intervention and patients may experience symptom relief for issues pertaining to shortness of breath or pain at the tumor site. The biggest risk is the complication of surgery as there is always a risk of infection, pain or bleeding.
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