Radiation Therapy Centers of Brevard

What is Radiation Therapy?

Radiation therapy is high energy ionizing radiant rays that are used to destroy cancer cells so that they are unable to grow or multiply. Like surgery, radiation therapy is a localized treatment. It affects only the cells in the treated area. Healthy cells in the treated area may also be affected, but usually recover. Radiation therapy may be used as the sole treatment for cancer or in conjunction with other types of treatment such as surgery or chemotherapy. The two most common types of radiation therapy are external x-ray or electron beam radiation and radioactive implants.

External Beam Radiation:

An x-ray machine called a linear accelerator generates high-energy x-rays or electrons to be aimed at the site containing the tumor.
Patients receive theses treatments once a day, 5 days a week. Monday through Friday for several days or weeks.

Internal radiation Therapy or Brachytherapy

This includes permanent radioactive seed implants and temporary radioactive implants which may use low dose rate sources for use as an inpatient in the hospital or a high dose rate source for use in the office. The implants may be inserted interstitially (in the tissue) or intracavitary which is usually contained within an applicator. In a temporary implant, the radioactive materials are placed inside an applicator which may be inserted within or near the cancer containing tissue. This may be done surgically at one of the hospitals or none-surgically in the office. The radioactive sources and applicators are removed after the required radiation dose has been given. Sometimes internal radiation is used by itself and other times it is used in addition to external beam radiation therapy.

Brachytherapy or Radioactive seeds