Brachytherapy is a radiation therapy treatment technique which is used for controlling cancers of several sites. Its name is derived from two terms, ‘Brachy’ means short and ‘Therapy’ means treatment. In this modality, radiation source is placed at very short distance to the diseased region to damage cancer cells and destroys their ability to proliferate. It gives superior accuracy, conformity and localization as physician is able to place the source in close proximity to the tumour This time department of radiation oncology added another feather in their cap by starting new technique of brachytherapy for breast oncology patients.
In this technique we used template to deliver radiotherapy in a breast cancer patient and at the same time we spared the heart and lung. In this technique patient has to stay only three days in the hospital and chances of cure with this technique is very high as high dose of radiotherapy can be given in short span of time.
The overall treatment time which is very important in Breast malignancy cure and with the help of this technique the treatment time is further reduced.As this is a highly skill dependent procedure but at the same time gives key satisfying results in cancer patients.
Brachytherapy machine that is used is 18 or 24 channel HDR that finishes treatments within minutes and reduce the discomfort comfort to the patient.
The brachytherapy treatment has already established as standard of care for breast cancer. At different organizations brachy therapy is most commonly given after surgery with HDR brachy therapy after loader machine followed by external beam radiation therapy as an outpatient treatment. With this advanced technique patients can be cured of breast cancer.