National Cancer Institute

Understanding Radiation Therapy

What To Know 

About Brachytherapy (A Type of Internal 

Radiation Therapy) 

“I asked questions. My doctor took the time 

to help my family and me understand what 

was going to happen.”

U.S. DEPARTMENT 

OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes

of Health

About the treatment: ■ Brachytherapy uses radiation to destroy 

cancer cells and shrink tumors.

■ The radiation source, which looks like 

seeds, ribbons, or wires, is put into 

your body.

Before treatment starts:

You will meet with your doctor to: ■ Talk about your health and medical 

history.

■ Get a checkup (physical exam). You 

will also have tests to take pictures of 

the cancer.

■ Learn how brachytherapy can help you. ■ Learn about any side effects you may 

have. These differ depending on where 

the radiation is placed.

■ Ask and get answers to all your 

questions before starting treatment.

During treatment: ■ Your doctor will place a small holder, 

such as a thin tube called a catheter, 

into your body. It is placed in or 

near the cancer cells. Sometimes an 

applicator or a balloon attached to a 

thin tube is used.

■ Then the seeds, ribbons, or wires are 

put inside the small holder so that 

the radiation can reach and destroy 

cancer cells.

■ Depending on the type of implant 

you receive, the radiation source may 

stay in place for minutes, hours, or 

days. Or if you receive a permanent 

implant, it will not be taken out.

Ask your doctor or nurse what side effects you should expect. Side effects depend on 

the part of your body being treated with radiation therapy. See the back of this sheet to 

order the Radiation Therapy Side Effects Sheets that can help you the most.
Revised February 2012

How can we help?

National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service

Phone: 1-800-422-6237 (1-800-4-CANCER)

Web: www.cancer.gov

Online Chat: www.cancer.gov/livehelp

NCI has a series of 9 Radiation Therapy Side Effects Sheets at:

www.cancer.gov/radiation-side-effects

Understanding Radiation Therapy: Brachytherapy (A Type of Internal Radiation Therapy)

Types of brachytherapy:

Low-dose rate (LDR) implants High-dose rate (HDR) implants Permanent implants

■ These implants stay in for 

hours or days. Often they 

stay in for 1 to 7 days and 

then are taken out.

■ You are likely to stay in 

a special room in the 

hospital.

■ You may need to limit 

time with visitors in 

the hospital, while the 

implant is in place.

■ Once the implant is 

removed, you are not 

radioactive and can be 

around people.

■ These implants stay in place for a 

few minutes at a time and are then 

taken out. Your entire visit will be 

longer, though, since it also takes 

time to prepare for the treatment.

■ The holder or catheter may stay 

in place or it may be put in place 

before each treatment.

■ You are likely to make daily trips to 

the hospital for your treatment. Or 

you may stay in the hospital. This 

depends on the type of cancer you 

have.

■ You can be around people after the 

implant is removed. You are not 

radioactive.

■ These implants 

stay in your 

body and are not 

removed.

■ Over time the 

radiation gets 

weaker, but the 

implants stay in 

place.

■ Your doctor or 

nurse will talk 

with you about 

what safety 

measures to take.

Be sure to ask your doctor about special instructions to follow.

Questions to ask your doctor or nurse:

1. How can brachytherapy help me?

2. What type of brachytherapy do you recommend?

3. What side effects should I expect? How will these side effects 

be lowered or managed?

4. Is infertility a possibility for me? Would you give me the name 

of a fertility expert to meet with?

5. How often, and for how long, will I receive treatment?

6. What changes might I have after treatment? How long will 

these changes last?