High-dose rate brachytherapy

Advocate Health Care offers high-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy – a powerful form of internally delivered radiation therapy that destroys many types of early-stage cancers confined to a small area, including breast, cervical, prostate, skin and more.

How it works

Between one to 20 thin plastic tubes, called catheters, are temporarily placed in and near tumors. Deployed by computer, a highly radioactive "seed" is pushed into each of the catheters to deliver radiation treatments at varying depths and times. After a series of treatments, the catheters are removed, and there are no radioactive seeds left in the body.

Depending on the type of cancer being treated, a high-dose rate treatment plan may require one session or multiple sessions for up to five days.

Benefits of HDR brachytherapy

• Higher dose of radiation is applied directly to the tumor while sparing healthy tissue and surrounding vital organs
• The radiation dose in different regions of the tumor site can be adjusted
• Used alone or applied after surgery to help prevent recurrence of cancer
• Convenient treatment
• Usually pain-free
• Minimizes risk of common short- and long-term side effects