Bladder cancer treatment with intravesical brachytherapy

In some instances, removing primary bladder cancer tumors might be impossible due to high risks of complications, bad patient conditions, and many other reasons. Moreover, sometimes it’s almost impossible to prescribe any kind of treatment, for example, due to severe side effects. Among the few available options for these patients is intravesical brachytherapy. A method that relies on small dosages of radiation that constantly damages the primary tumor. Very often, it prevents cancer from further growth and even might lead to the tumor’s volume decrease. Intravesical brachytherapy is a straightforward method of therapy. Oncologists implant a tiny radioactive seed (less than 3 mm) into a tumor made of iridium-192, iodine-125, or other similar materials. Sometimes, oncologists might use 30-50 seeds of much smaller sizes (about 0,003 mm) for single implantation. They reach the bladder tumor via the urethral catheter (a tube that inserts via the urethra) and implant seed (or seeds) by injecting a direct syringe into the tumor. Brachytherapy often buys some valuable time for patients’ necessary recovery. The tumor wouldn’t develop too actively with seeds inside and may even degenerate slightly due to intravesical brachytherapy's good effect. At the same time, the patient can regain strength, rest a vile, do some rehabilitation measures, and eventually try again with some of the previously unavailable treatment methods. Seeds might remain inside the patient's body if their doctors consider them valuable.