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Brachytherapy for Pelvic Cancer Patients

We still have no cure for cancer, so it's always good news when treatment improves. The latest is a high-tech form of radiation called brachytherapy. It's a menacing medicine that goes head to head with tough cancer cells.

Dr. Rachelle Lanciano treats women with pelvic cancers, and she doesn't just rely on traditional methods like external radiation and chemotherapy.

"We use what's called inter-cavitary brachytherapy," said Dr. Lanciano.

Brachytherapy means delivering radiation directly to the cancer, internally.

"It's a way of effectively giving a high dose of radiation to the tumor, while minimizing the dose to the normal tissue," Dr. Lanciano said.

In uterine cancer, for example, radiation sources are implanted inside the uteru as close to the cancer as possible, giving the strongest dose possible. After a two day hospital stay, the sources are removed.

"By the time we see the patient, one month following the implant, most patients have a complete response. We can't see any evidence of residual cancer," Dr. Lanciano explained.

Sophisticated computer mapping systems help plan exactly where to put the radiation sources. It's similar to the treatment doctors use for prostate cancer patients like John Stilwell.

"Maybe I've got a good chance," Stillwell said.

Radiation seeds are loaded into a needle, then implanted inside the prostate. The seeds give off radiation for up to eight months, then remain in the body.

"Our ability to cure the cancer with this procedure is very, very good," said Dr. Istvan Pataki.

"I think the newer things that we have available to us, have really enhanced our ability to deliver radiation appropriately..." Dr. Lanciano said.

Although brachytherapy is most commonly used for gynecologic cancers and cancer of the prostate, it can be used to treat tumors throughout the body. It is typically used in conjunction with external beam radiation and chemotherapy.

For general information on cancer and cancer treatment:
- American Cancer Society, http://www.cancer.org
- National Cancer Institute, http://www.nci.nih.gov

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