Brachytherapy, or internal radiotherapy, is a type of tumor radiotherapy, in which the placement of radioactive material inside the body is foreseen, in the close vicinity of the tumor to be treated.
What are the strengths of this cancer treatment?
First of all, it allows to concentrate the radiations on a well localized area of the body, in this case the one occupied by the tumor. In this way and unlike what happens with traditional external radiotherapy, most of the healthy tissues surrounding the tumor mass are preserved.
Secondly, it allows to increase - if the therapist considers it necessary - the rate of radioactivity to which the tumor is exposed. This advantage derives from the first, or rather from the possibility of concentrating radiation exclusively on the tumor area.
Finally, it is fast, easy to perform and extremely comfortable. Unlike external radiotherapy, in fact, it takes place in 1-2 sessions, does not require the use of special equipment and, except in special cases, can be practiced leaving the patient the possibility of performing normal daily activities.
