Dr. Luísa Carvalho, a radio-oncologist at IPO Porto, shares her extensive experience and insights into the use of brachytherapy for treating gynecological tumors. Her testimonial highlights the critical role of this advanced treatment method in managing cancers of the vagina, vulva, and especially the uterus.

The Importance of Brachytherapy in Gynecological Cancer

Dr. Carvalho emphasizes that brachytherapy is an “irreplaceable” treatment for gynecological tumors. This method is highly targeted, allowing for very high doses of radiation to be delivered directly to the tumor while sparing adjacent healthy tissues. This precision makes brachytherapy a fundamental component of cancer treatment, particularly for tumors of the uterus, both in the body and the cervix.

Advantages of Brachytherapy

One of the significant advantages of brachytherapy is its ability to deliver a radiation dose equivalent to several days or even weeks of external radiotherapy in a much shorter time. This shorter treatment duration is a considerable convenience for patients, reducing the overall time they need to spend undergoing therapy.

The Treatment Process

Brachytherapy, also known as internal radiotherapy, involves the insertion of a radioactive source into the uterus, vagina, and surrounding tissues if affected by the disease. This is done using specially designed applicators or plastic needles. Modern brachytherapy utilizes CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to control the position of the tumor and the implant. This imaging technology ensures that the tumor receives the intended and effective dose while sparing normal tissues.

Image-Guided Brachytherapy

Dr. Carvalho highlights the benefits of image-guided brachytherapy, a modern technique that enhances the safety and effectiveness of the procedure. “This image-guided brachytherapy ensures that the procedure is safer and has advantages in terms of saving normal tissues and reduced toxicity,” she explains. The use of CT and MRI allows for precise planning and delivery of the radiation dose, minimizing the risk to healthy tissues.

Temporary Implants and Patient Safety

The radioactive source is introduced into the applicators using a remote afterloading machine, which propels the source into the applicators for the treatment and removes it once the treatment is finished. As these implants are temporary, the applicators are removed after the treatment, ensuring that the patient does not become radioactive. Patients can safely return to their families and resume normal activities without posing any risk to those around them.

Treatment Flexibility

The complexity of brachytherapy implants can vary depending on the tumor’s location, extent, and the treatment’s intention (curative or complementary to surgery). Treatments can be performed on an outpatient basis or may require short hospitalization. They can be done in a single session or over several days and may sometimes require general anesthesia and antibiotics. Despite these variations, brachytherapy treatments are generally well-tolerated, allowing patients to quickly resume their normal lives.

Patient Consultation and Benefits

Dr. Carvalho advises that patients should always discuss the benefits and risks of brachytherapy with their attending radio-oncologist. She emphasizes that the advantages of brachytherapy are numerous: “The total treatment time will be shorter, which is advantageous. The treatment is safe, minimally invasive, and allows for a quick recovery.” Above all, brachytherapy is associated with improved local control of the disease and survival, with a decrease in both acute and long-term toxicity.

Conclusion

Dr. Luísa Carvalho’s testimonial underscores the critical role of brachytherapy in the treatment of gynecological tumors. This advanced treatment method offers precise targeting of tumors, reduced treatment times, and minimized side effects, making it a highly effective option for patients. As Dr. Carvalho concludes, “Whenever it is technically possible to carry it out, brachytherapy is an option that should not be ignored.”