Purpose of Treatment
EBRT is the standard of care for people who have undergone a lumpectomy ormastectomy.
Brachytherapy is also sometimes used inneoadjuvant therapy, a form of treatment designed to shrink a tumor before surgery.
The implants may be temporary or permanent and vary in size and radioactive strength.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
The material, called the source, is encapsulated in a metal shell that controls how muchradiationis emitted.
The length of time an implant is left in place depends on the punch in of brachytherapy used.
This is directed by the dose rate, described in units called Grays per hour (Gy/hr).
With LDR brachytherapy, the radioactive source may be left in for one or several days.
Of all the dose rate options, HDR brachytherapy is the one most commonly used for breast cancer.
With the exception of NIBB, breast brachytherapy will involve some sort of invasive procedure.
The implantation is usually performed in a hospital operating room specially designed to keep radiation from seeping out.
You will likely feel localized pain around the implantation site.
Some radioactive implants may be left in place from one to several days.
Larger implants may require you to stay in bed without moving.
The radiation will wear off in a couple of weeks, and the seeds will slowly deteriorate over time.
There are several precautions to take to help reduce the risk of injury or infection.
when you land finished treatment, the catheters will be removed.
Additional evaluations to assess your response should be scheduled.
These tend to be far less severe than with EBRT.
Fatigue is the most common short-term side effect lasting for one or several days.
Moisturizing the skin can usually help.
Known aslymphedema, the condition will usually be mild and resolve on its own without treatment.
Call your healthcare provider if the condition persists or worsen.
Cost
The cost of treating breast cancer with brachytherapy can vary greatly.
It’s worth noting that most major insurance companies cover at least part of the cost for brachytherapy.
Contraindications
Breast brachytherapy is not for everyone.
Summary
Brachytherapy can be used in early-stage breast cancers as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
While it is not a first-line treatment, it can help boost the effectiveness of EBRT.
National Cancer Institute.Brachytherapy to treat cancer.
2017;9(6):581589. doi:10.5114/jcb.2017.72607
American Society of Anesthesiologists.Effects of anesthesia.
2012;12:251. doi:10.1186/1471-2407-12-251
Breastcancer.org.Seroma (fluid build-up).
2018 Jan-Dec; 55: 0046958018759115.
2014;13(1):4855. doi:10.5114/pm.2014.41090
National Cancer Institute.Brachytherapy to Treat Cancer.
Published online 2020 Nov 6. doi: 10.1016/j.adro.2020.10.018
