The treatment is given in the Brachytherapy Department, Rutherford Suite, Level -1 Bexley Wing The department is a combined out patient treatment and theatre based Day Case Unit. Your treatment will be as a day case patient on a Tuesday. You will be asked to attend from 07.00 on the day of the procedure and will be in the department until approximately 4 pm.
Brachytherapy is a type of interventional radiotherapy that uses a radioactive source held in a small pellet. The source can be placed close to the cervix and womb using a special applicator. The treatment area receives a high dose of radiation whilst the dose to surrounding normal tissue is lower.
The healthcare team looking after you will explain your treatment and the side-effects in detail. If you hear any words or phrases that you do not understand, please ask your doctor or a member of your healthcare team what it means. It does not matter how many times you ask.
Intracavitary treatment
This procedure is used mainly in the treatment of cervical cancer and occasionally endometrial (a lining of the uterus) cancer. This is given after as a course of chemoradiotherapy or solely as external beam radiotherapy. Applicators are inserted under a spinal anaesthetic and at weekly intervals, usually for three treatments. The procedure will be as a day case meaning that you do not need to be admitted.
You will contacted by the brachytherapy radiographers during your external beam radiotherapy. They will explain what will happen during your brachytherapy treatment and give you an appointment for the day case unit. Your brachytherapy appointment will usually be in the final week of your external radiotherapy. You will not have radiotherapy on this day.
Fasting Instructions
- Please have a light meal the evening before the procedure.
- 250 ml of clear, unflavoured, still water should be drunk two hours before the procedure, i.e. at 6.00am for a morning procedure.
- Solids and drinks containing milk should not be consumed from midnight on the day of the procedure.
What does the treatment involve?
The week before your first brachytherapy treatment you will attend the Radiology Department for a MRI Scan.
The day before you start you will have a appointment in clinic and an appointment for bloods to be taken.
You will be admitted to the department, change into a gown and taken to a bay within recovery area. An enema will be given to clear your bowels. Once admitted the Anaesthetist and Clinician will speak with you.
In preparation for the treatment you will require a spinal anaesthetic.
You will then be taken into theatre where a catheter will be put into your bladder and the applicators for treatment will be positioned.
Once the applicators are in the correct position you will be transferred on a trolley to the recovery area. You will then be taken on the trolley to the MRI Scanner where the radiographers will check several measurements and you will have an MRI to be used to plan your treatment. You will taken back to the brachytherapy suite. You will then have to wait for your treatment to be planned and this usually takes 2-3 hours. As the applicators are in place you will have to lie on a trolley until the treatment is complete. You are welcome to bring in a book, magazine or phone. During this time you will be looked after by the recovery team who will monitor any pain you will have.
What happens during treatment?
Once planned your treatment plan is checked and sent to the treatment Unit(HDR Machine).
You will be moved on the trolley to the treatment area. The applicators will be attached to the hollow cables (see photo below).
The machine contains a small radioactive pellet (Iridium) which when switched on travels into the applicators and delivers a specific amount of radiation to the tumour area.
Treatment takes approximately 15-20 minutes. You will be alone in the room but you are monitored by CCTV, (this does not record and is for monitoring purposes only). There is also an intercom and treatment can be stopped at any point.
There is a radio in the room and you are welcome to use you phone.
After the treatment
Once your treatment is complete the radiographers will remove the applicators and packing. Depending on how much feeling you have in your legs your catheter may be removed otherwise it will be removed by the recovery nurse.
- You will be taken back to the recovery bay where you can have a drink and something to eat.
- You will be able to go home as soon as you are up and fine.
- You will need an adult to be with you overnight.
- You cannot drive for 24 hours after the procedure so someone will have to collect you from the department.
Side-effects
If you have also had external beam radiotherapy you may already be having some diarrhoea or urinary (wee) symptoms but this should not get any worse. If this is your only treatment, the side-effects should be minimal but may occur up to two weeks after treatment.
The side-effects you may experience are loose or more frequent bowel movements and a burning pain on passing urine. Drinking plenty of fluids can help to reduce this. If these do not pass quickly or become severe, please contact your GP for further advice.
Radiotherapy may cause dryness, loss of elasticity and narrowing of the vagina. You may be able to help to reduce this by using a vaginal dilator after treatment has finished. The brachytherapy radiographer will discuss this further during your treatment and give you a leaflet, ‘Vaginal Care and your radiotherapy’. Please ask if you have not received this leaflet.
When will I see the doctor again?
The doctor will want to see you about 6-8 weeks after the treatment has finished. An appointment will be posted to you.
Hotel Bexley Wing
The hotel is located on the 8th floor of Bexley wing and offers single and double rooms each with an en-suite, tea and coffee making facilities and digital television. Single rooms with wheel chair access are also available. 23 Patients are able to stay free of charge. There is a charge for relatives if they are staying in their own room. For further details please contact the Hotel Co-ordinator on 0113 206 7687. Out of hours please contact the Non-surgical Oncology Nurse Practitioner through main switch board on 0113 243 3144.
Car Parking
Parking for radiotherapy planning and treatment is free. On entering the car park take a ticket and park as usual (disabled parking spaces are on Level 0). When exiting use the left hand lane next to the ticket office. Take your parking ticket and appointment letter to the attendant. They will process your ticket so that when you insert it at the barrier no charge will be made. If you need assistance or are unable to leave your car please press the button on the barrier.
Student radiographers
The radiotherapy department is a training centre for therapeutic radiographers of any gender. They are supervised at all times. If you do not wish students to be present, please speak to a member of staff. This will not affect your treatment or care.
Contact numbers
Brachytherapy Radiographers
Tel: 0113 206 7744 Monday to Friday 8.00am – 6.00pm
Support Services
Leeds Cancer Support – Complementing care provided by your clinical team, offering access to information and a wide range of support, in a welcoming environment for all. We can be found in the information lounges in Bexley Wing and also in the purpose built Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre.
The Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre – This centre offers a variety of free health & wellbeing and supportive therapies for patients, their family members, and carers. These include hypnotherapy, mindfulness coaching, acupuncture (for hot flushes) and Pilates.
Stopping smoking – NHS Free Smoking Helpline: 0300 123 1044 Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am to 5pm. Website: www.nhs.uk/smokefree
OUTpatients – A cancer support and advocacy charity for the LGBTIQ+ community. Email: [email protected]
Website: https://outpatients.org.uk/
Maggie’s Centre – A warm, welcoming place where you can meet people who are experiencing similar things to you. Next to the multi storey car park. Open Monday to Friday 9.00 am – 5.00pm. Tel: 0113 457 8364 website: www.maggiescentres.org
Macmillan Cancer Support – Freephone: 0808 808 0000 Open 8am to 8pm seven days a week. A textphone service for deaf and hard of hearing people is also available. Textphone: 18001 0808 808 0000 website: www.macmillan.org.uk You don’t need an appointment and all support is free.