High-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy
HDR brachytherapy is a type of internal radiation therapy that uses radioactive pellets, also called seeds, to deliver high doses of radiation very close to, or inside of, a tumor with minimum exposure to healthy surrounding tissue. The pellets are precisely placed into the tumor through a hollow needle. The pellets may be removed after a certain amount of time, or left inside permanently.
This procedure allows Mercy's radiation oncology team to offer precise, targeted doses of radiation while avoiding serious side effects. Treatment time is measured in days, rather than weeks—another benefit of HDR brachytherapy.
At Mercy, HDR brachytherapy is used to treat localized cancers in the prostate and breast. HDR brachytherapy may be combined with other procedures for maximum benefit for the patient.
