HDR Brachytherapy
High-Dose Rate (HDR) brachytherapy is a comprehensive and aggressive form of internal radiation therapy. TriStar Sarah Cannon frequently uses this form of therapy to treat cancers of the breast, cervix, uterus, and lung.
HDR Brachytherapy is an effective form of radiation therapy that has a reduced time frame than traditional external beam radiation therapy. With brachytherapy the radiation is placed inside the tumor creating a tightly focused treatment. This technique ensures the maximum radiation dose is delivered precisely where it is needed while allowing less exposure to the tissue around the tumor.
Potential benefits of HDR brachytherapy include:
- Shorter treatment time for the patient
- Tightly concentrated field to more effectively reach the tumor bed and to save the healthy tissue from exposure
- Decreased skin irritation and other side effects
