High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy is a form of radiation treatment in which radioactive sources are placed for several minutes adjacent to or within the tumor. The advantage of this treatment is that a high dose of radiation can be given to the tumor while reducing the radiation dose to the surrounding normal tissues. With the use of computerized treatment planning, physicians can vary the radiation dosage and placement, resulting in more precise treatment and less harm to healthy tissue.
At the Ireland Cancer Center, HDR Brachytherapy is being used in the treatment of gynecologic, lung, and head and neck cancers. It may be used alone or with external beam radiation therapy to treat cancer. It may also be used in conjunction with chemotherapy or surgery. HDR Brachytherapy allows many patients to be treated on an outpatient basis for problems that previously required a hospital stay.