Brachytherapy

Among the NU-MED Group centres, this method is used by the centres in Zamość, Katowice and Tomaszów Mazowiecki. An isotope of iridium (Ir-192) is applied as the radiation source.
HDR - (High Dose Rate)- refers to high dose rate and the use of a radiation source of high activity. As a result, the irradiation session lasts relatively short (usually several minutes).

With regard to radiation dose power, the following techniques are distinguished:

• LDR - (low dose rate) low dose power - less than 2Gy/h
• MDR - (medium dose rate) medium dose rate - 2-12Gy/h
• HDR - (high dose rate) high dose rate - above 12Gy/h
• PDR - (pulse dose rate) pulsed dose rate - administration of an MDR dose in appropriate fixed time pulses

PROCEDURES:

• Intracavitary brachytherapy
• Interstitial brachytherapy
• Surface brachytherapy
• 3D real-time HDR brachytherapy

What do the preparation and treatment look like?

There are two types of applications in brachytherapy treatment:

Large arrangement of applicators:

• Brief intravenous anaesthesia of the patient is necessary, with the anaesthetist's involvement
• Administration of appropriate medication prescribed by the doctor
• Insertion of appropriate applicator system, adequate to the diagnosis and the patient's anatomical structures
• Performing treatment planning in the CT or MRI scanner laboratory with the applicator system in place

Small arrangement of applicators:

• No specific preparation required by the patient
• The type of arrangement is selected according to the clinical diagnosis and stage, after consultation between the radiotherapist and a second specialist in the field
• The entire procedure lasts between 5-15 minutes

Once the applicator arrangement is in place, the medical physicist, in consultation with the doctor, prepare a treatment plan, i.e. treatment time and dose. The Patient is then treated with ionising radiation arising from the breakdown of the radiation source placed in the microSelectron HDR therapy device. During the treatment, the Patient is observed via a video camera system and an interphone system. A nurse, an electroradiology technician, a medical physicist and a radiotherapist supervise the safety of the Patient during the treatment.

How to prepare for the treatment?

• wash your body in the shower (do not wash off the markings)
• take care to have a bowel movement
• be willing to cooperate with medical staff

What does the treatment involve?

the so-called prolapse symptoms, which may include:

• excessive sweating
• weakness
• hot flashes
• dizziness

The brachytherapy patient, after discharge from hospital, should contact their doctor whenever there are symptoms of concern.