I'm convinced that it was partly because of his personality, and partly because of how the staff treated him. Every day that he received radiation, his favorite stuffed toy, Mr. Bear, was radiated, too. Brachytherapy is useful in treating solid tumors because it allows high-dose radiation to be delivered directly to the tumor site while sparing surrounding, healthy tissue. It differs from external radiation because it provides a continuous low dose of radiation to the tumor. Internal radiation to body cavities or tissues is delivered through a catheter.
Radioactive plaques are custom-made disks that are positioned directly in a tumor.
They are often used to treat retinoblastoma. Your child will become radioactive from each of these forms of internal radiation. She will need to be admitted to a special isolation room during treatment. Parents are allowed only a limited amount of time with their child. Children and pregnant women cannot visit as long as the child remains radioactive.