Brachytherapy: Radiation from the Inside-Out

In this approach, small radioactive seeds (or pellets), each about the size of a grain of rice, are placed directly into the prostate. They may be permanent or temporary. Because they are so small, they cause little discomfort and are simply left in place after their radioactive material is used up. Sometimes these pellets are referred to as seeds.

While radiation therapy can be used as the main treatment for prostate cancer, it can also be used to treat bone pain for cancer that has spread to the bone. Substances called radiopharmaceuticals are used for this purpose. They can be given into a vein. Then they settle in areas of bones that contain cancer. Often patients with pain from cancer that has spread to the bone are helped with this approach.

A definition for Radioactive Seed from the NCI:
A small, radioactive pellet that is placed in or near a tumor. Cancer cells are killed by the energy given off as the radioactive material decays (breaks down).

There are multiple ways to deploy Brachytherapy to treat different types of cancers: