Brachytherapy Side Effects & Patient Experiences
What Is Brachytherapy?
What is the purpose of brachytherapy? Brachytherapy is used as a cancer treatment for various types of cancer.
Brachytherapy, also known as brachy radiation or internal radiation, is a type of therapy under the broader umbrella of radiation therapy that’s used in the treatment of cancer.
How Does Brachytherapy Work?
Brachytherapy involves placing seeds, capsules, or ribbons, that hold a radiation source, into your body either in or near the targeted tumor. It is often used in treating breast cancer, cervical cancer, eye cancer, head and neck cancer, and prostate cancer.
How Brachytherapy Differs From External Beam Radiation
In comparison to external beam radiation, brachytherapy enables specialists to deliver more targeted and higher doses of radiation during the procedure when brachytherapy seeds, also called iodine seeds, are placed.
What to Expect After Brachytherapy
If an oncologist or other healthcare provider has recommended brachytherapy for you or a loved one, you may wonder about what to expect after brachytherapy. Some of the most common side effects include but are not limited to:
- swelling
- bruising
- bleeding
- pain and discomfort radiation target location
Side effects for prostate and gynecological cancers may also include:
- short-term urinary symptoms, including incontinence or pain on urination
- diarrhea
- constipation
- some rectal bleeding
- erectile dysfunction (prostate cancer)
Brachytherapy Patient Experiences
Here’s what some cancer patients have to share about their personal experiences with brachytherapy radiation.
I did brachytherapy. Then, in September 2011, I had 90 iodine seeds planted. That was my 2nd line of treatment, and I went another five years of active surveillance.
Steve R. (Gleason Score 6, Stage 2 to Stage 4, Metastatic)
I did brachytherapy four times, and it was every other week. It was in combination with the other treatment which is seven cycles of Cisplatin and 28 cycles of radiation. You go into this room, and it’s the most uninviting space ever.
What happens after brachytherapy is your vagina loses elasticity. Having sex becomes limited because the vagina is no longer elastic like before. That’s a lasting side effect. They give you something called a vagina dilator. It’s a fancy term for a dildo. I didn’t start using mine until way later.
All the girls that talk about it on cancer boards I’m a part of say the best advice you could give someone is to use your dilator.
Marissa N. (Cervical Cancer, Squamous Cell, Stage 3B)
All Brachytherapy Patient Experiences
Steve R., Prostate Cancer, Gleason 6, Stage 2-4
Cancer Details: Started at stage 2 and gradually progressed to stage 3, and then to stage 4 with metastasis to lymph nodes
1st Symptoms: Rising PSA score
Treatment: IMRT (radiation therapy), brachytherapy, surgery, and lutetium-177
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Marissa, Squamous, Stage 3B
1st Symptoms: Excessive and prolonged vaginal bleeding
Treatment: Chemotherapy (Cisplatin), radiation, brachytherapy
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