Brachytherapy
What is Brachytherapy?
Brachytherapy is a type of radiotherapy treatment that involves placing radiation inside the body. This allows a high dose of radiation to be delivered to the tumour, while minimising damage to the surrounding healthy tissues. It may be used as a stand-alone treatment or sometimes in combination with external radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The radioactive source is either a permanent implant (Low Dose Rate - LDR) and the treatment delivered over a period of weeks, or a temporary implant (High Dose Rate – HDR) where the treatment lasts a few minutes. Some procedures require a general or spinal anaesthetic, while others can be given on an outpatient basis.
Brachytherapy treatments offered at UHD:
- LDR Prostate Brachytherapy
- HDR Prostate Brachytherapy
- HDR Cervix Brachytherapy
- HDR Vaginal Vault (post-surgery) Brachytherapy
The Brachytherapy Team
The team is made up of different professionals including:
- Therapeutic Radiographers
- Medical physicists/clinical scientists
- Bookings officers
- Dosimetrists
- Consultant Clinical Oncologists
Useful Brachytherapy contacts
Please use the number below for any brachytherapy related queries:
Brachytherapy office number – 0300 019 2047 (answerphone)
Patient information leaflets
Information leaflets for the different brachytherapy treatments offered at UHD can be found below. You may have already received a paper copy. Prior to your treatment, the brachytherapy radiographers will provide further information on your specific treatment.
Prostate Brachytherapy leaflets
- Low dose rate prostate brachytherapy service
- Prostate brachytherapy service HDR (high dose rate)
- Information regarding prostate brachytherapy preparation
