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Internal radiotherapy uses radiation to treat cancer from inside the body.
This may be…
Radioactive implant
A radioactive source (usually in the form of small tubes or wires) is put inside or close to the cancer. It is left in place for a carefully measured period of time. This type of treatment may be used to treat gynaecological cancers, for instance.
Some types of implant (called seeds) are left in place permanently. Tiny radioactive seeds may be used to treat prostate cancer, for example. The seeds remain radioactive for a few months. There is no need to take them out afterwards. This treatment is called prostate brachytherapy.
Information on various types of radioactive implant will soon be available on this website.
Radioactive liquid
For some cancers a radioactive drink or injection is given as treatment.
Part of the usual treatment for thyroid cancer is radioactive iodine, given as a drink.
Information on other types of radioactive liquid treatments will be added to this website in the future.
