Brachytherapy

Brachytherapy means close treating. It is applied by placing radioactive sources directly into organ and body cavities and tissues. We have a high dose speed device in the division for the brachytherapy method which has different application methods.

After the patient comes to his brachytherapy appointment for treatment, he is informed by the brachytherapy nurse. A mild sedative injection is made according to the procedure to be applied. Certain applicators that do not involve radioactive sources are placed to the area where treatment will be applied. In certain patients general anesthesia is used to perform the procedure, and it is generally executed in the operating rooms of Hacettepe Adult Hospital. After the application, the patient is taken to the CT simulator. The patient whose CT scan is obtained is taken to the brachytherapy section to wait while the treatment planning is made.

After the computed treatment planning which is made by radiotherapy physicists and physicians, the patient is taken to the treatment room. The treatment team leaves and the treatment is started after the connections between the applicators on patient and the treatment device are established. During brachytherapy, the treatment is performed in rooms with thick walls, in order to prevent radiation emission to environment and it is managed from an outer control room where nurses are placed. During the treatment, there exist a closed circuit camera system by which the patient is monitored and a diaphone system that enables mutual conversation. The radioactive source exits from its protective cover and goes into the applicators that are previously applied to the patient and the radiation process starts. During the treatment patient feels nothing, however a mild vibration may be perceived. Generally the treatment takes 1-20 minutes; it is significant for the patients not to move during this period. After the treatment is completed, the patient is taken out of the room and appointment is scheduled for the patient for the following treatment.