Internal radiation therapy is the placement of radioactive material inside the body as close as possible to the cancer. Radioactive - Giving off radiation. The patient is given an injection or swallows a small amount of radioactive material. A machine called a scanner then measures the radioactivity in certain organs. Remission - Disappearance of the signs and symptoms of cancer.
Remission can be temporary or permanent.
Risk factor - Something that increases a person's chance of developing a disease. Side effects - Problems that occur when treatment affects healthy cells. The doctor may collect samples of tissue or cells for closer examination. Also called proctosigmoidoscopy. Sperm banking - Freezing sperm before cancer treatment for use in the future.