Is brachytherapy painful?

Most patients experience little to no pain during brachytherapy. You may feel mild discomfort at the treatment site, but this is usually temporary and manageable with medication.

How long does brachytherapy take?

Treatment time varies depending on whether you have permanent low-dose seeds or high-dose sessions, but most procedures are completed in under an hour.

Can I go home after brachytherapy or radionuclide therapy?

In most cases, both treatments are done on an outpatient basis, meaning you can go home the same day. Your care team will give you safety guidelines to follow.

What cancers can be treated with radionuclide therapy?

Radionuclide therapy can be used for certain thyroid, liver, neuroendocrine, prostate, and lymphoma cancers. Your doctor will determine if it’s right for you.

Where can I get brachytherapy in Palm Beach County?

Lynn Cancer Institute in Boca Raton offers advanced brachytherapy and radionuclide therapies, delivered by a team experienced in precision cancer care.

Brachytherapy and Radionuclide Therapy

Internal and targeted radiation options that precisely treat cancer while sparing healthy tissue.

What is Brachytherapy?

Brachytherapy is internal radiation therapy where a radioactive source, like Iridium‑192 (via a tube) or Iodine‑125 (via a pill), is placed near or inside the tumor to deliver high doses with minimal exposure to healthy tissue .

Types of Brachytherapy

We offer two main kinds:

Permanent Low-Dose-Rate (LDR) Therapy: Seeds or capsules placed permanently, slowly releasing radiation.

High-Dose-Rate (HDR) Therapy: Temporary, precise placement with powerful radiation doses.

What is Radionuclide Therapy?

Radionuclide therapy uses radioactive drugs tailored to specific tumors. An example of radionuclide therapy includes:

Liver radioembolization: Radioactive microspheres delivered to liver tumors.

I‑131: Oral radioactive treatment for certain thyroid cancers or benign conditions.

Lutathera: Targets neuroendocrine tumors.

Pluvicto: For certain advanced prostate cancers.

Xofigo: Treats prostate cancer that has spread to bone.

Zevalin: Used with Rituximab to treat select non-Hodgkin lymphoma .

When Is It Used?

Brachytherapy is commonly used for skin, prostate, cervical, and endometrial cancers. Radionuclide options extend to liver, thyroid, neuroendocrine, prostate bone metastases, and certain lymphomas .

Benefits and Risks

Benefits

Highly targeted therapy, delivers radiation directly to the tumor, sparing neighboring tissue. 

Convenient schedules, many treatments are outpatient, requiring fewer visits .

Preserves healthy tissue and cosmetic results, particularly for skin cancer treatment. 

Risks

Side effects vary by treatment area but may include localized discomfort, skin reactions, urinary or bowel symptoms, and potential long-term effects such as scar tissue or mild organ function changes. These are generally manageable and limited in scope.

What to Expect

Before treatment, your care team will conduct imaging and planning to determine the best placement or dosage. For radionuclide therapy, specific instructions will prepare you for safe, effective delivery.
- Brachytherapy: Radioactive material is placed temporarily or permanently, often outpatient.
- Radionuclide Therapy: Administered via pill, injection, or catheter under professional oversight.
You’ll be closely monitored for side effects and healing progress. Most people carry on with daily life shortly after treatment, with follow‑up visits to assess outcomes and guide next steps.

Brachytherapy and Radionuclide Therapy: By the Numbers

Over 1,200 brachytherapy and radionuclide procedures performed annually across Baptist Health

>0%

patient completion rate with minimal treatment interruptions

Meet Our Specialists

Expert Treatment Close to Home

Closed

Lynn Cancer Institute | Boca Raton

701 NW 13 St., Boca Raton, FL 33486

Call 561-955-5966

Get Directions

Frequently Asked Questions

Most patients experience little to no pain during brachytherapy. You may feel mild discomfort at the treatment site, but this is usually temporary and manageable with medication.
Treatment time varies depending on whether you have permanent low-dose seeds or high-dose sessions, but most procedures are completed in under an hour.
In most cases, both treatments are done on an outpatient basis, meaning you can go home the same day. Your care team will give you safety guidelines to follow.
Radionuclide therapy can be used for certain thyroid, liver, neuroendocrine, prostate, and lymphoma cancers. Your doctor will determine if it’s right for you.
Lynn Cancer Institute in Boca Raton offers advanced brachytherapy and radionuclide therapies, delivered by a team experienced in precision cancer care.

Clinical Trials

At Lynn Cancer Institute, we treat cancer in today’s patients and offer hope for those who may get the disease in the future. Through clinical trials, we study promising new ways to diagnose and treat cancer. As our patient, you have access to trials and treatments that aren’t widely available elsewhere.

If a clinical trial may be right for you, we’ll talk with you about the potential benefits and risks. We make your overall well-being and safety our top priority if you choose to participate.

Make Appointment

Or call 561-955-5966