Internal radiotherapy

Internal radiotherapy is used mainly to treat cancers in the head and neck area, the cervix, womb, prostate gland or the skin.

How it is given Back to top

Treatment is given in one of two ways:

• by putting solid radioactive material (the source) close to or inside the tumour for a limited period of time
• by using a radioactive liquid, which is given either as a drink or as an injection into a vein.

If you have internal radiotherapy, you may have to stay in hospital for a few days and special precautions will be taken while the radioactive material is in place in your body. Once the treatment is over there is no risk of exposing your family or friends to radiation.

The process of putting solid radioactive material close to or inside the tumour is called brachytherapy|.

Giving a radioactive liquid, either as a drink, a capsule, or as an injection into a vein is called radioisotope treatment|. Your specialist will discuss your particular treatment with you.

Before having your treatment you will be asked to sign a form to say that you give your permission (consent|).

Safety measures Back to top

Certain safety measures will be taken to prevent unnecessary radiation exposure to the hospital staff and your friends and relatives. Depending on the type of treatment you're having, the restrictions may be needed for a few days – but sometimes it’s only for a few minutes.

The staff looking after you will explain the restrictions in more detail before you start your treatment. Each hospital has different routines, and it’s worth visiting the treatment area beforehand to discuss with the nursing and medical staff what will happen.

You may be admitted to the ward the day before your treatment so that the staff can go over the procedure with you. This is a good time to ask questions and it may help to make a list beforehand so you don't forget something important.

While the radioactive source is in place, or after treatment with a liquid radioisotope:

• You will be in a side room, away from the main ward.
• You may be alone or with someone else having similar treatment.
• Lead screens may be put on either side of your bed to protect other people from any radiation.
• The doctors and staff on the ward will only stay in your room for short periods at a time.
• Children and pregnant women will not be allowed to visit.
• An instrument called a Geiger counter may be used to monitor the level of radiation in the room. The nurses may wear a small radiation counter.
• Visitors will be restricted, and only allowed to stay in the room or sit at the end of the bed for a short time, if at all. They may be able to talk to you from outside the room through an intercom.
• Staff and visitors will be asked to keep away from you, to reduce their exposure to the radiation.

The safety measures and visiting restrictions might make you feel very isolated, frightened and depressed, at a time when you may want people around you. If you have these feelings it’s important that you let the staff looking after you know. It might also be helpful to take in plenty of reading material and other items to keep you occupied while you're in the single room.

Brachytherapy

If you are having brachytherapy|, you only need to stay in isolation while the radioactive source is in place. Once it is removed, the radioactivity disappears and it’s perfectly safe to be with other people. This does not apply to brachytherapy for prostate cancer| (as the radioactive seeds are not removed).

Radioisotope

If you are having treatment with a radioisotope| (liquid), the radioactivity will disappear gradually and you will only need to stay in isolation until the radiation in your body has broken down. Before you leave hospital, the staff will check that most of the radioactivity in your body has gone, and that your belongings are free from any signs of radioactivity. After you leave hospital you should be able to carry on your life almost as normal, but there may be a few restrictions about contact with people – especially children and pregnant women – for a few more days.

Your feelings Back to top

People handle their fears in different ways; some want to know everything about their treatment, while others prefer to know as little as possible. If you need any explanations, the staff on the ward will be happy to help you. It often helps to talk to the staff or family and friends about any fears or worries you have. You will probably only be in the single room for a short time, perhaps only one or two days, during which you can read books and magazines, watch TV or listen to the radio.