Brachytherapy is a type of targeted internal radiation therapy where the radiation source is placed inside the body near the prostate. Giving doses of radiation directly into the prostate can lower the amount of unwanted radiation going into areas such as the rectum and bladder.
There are 2 different types of brachytherapy: permanent and temporary. If you already have significant urinary symptoms or a large prostate, brachytherapy may not be suitable.
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Safety precautions after brachytherapy
If you have permanent brachytherapy your body may give off some radiation for a period of time. The levels will gradually fall over a number of months. This radiation only travels a short distance, which means there is little radiation outside your body.
You will still need to take care spending time in close contact with pregnant women and young children for a few weeks or months after the seeds are inserted. Your treatment team will explain the precautions to you. You should use a condom during sex (intercourse and oral) for this precaution time in case a seed comes out (this is rare).
If you have temporary brachytherapy, you will not be radioactive once the wires are removed after treatment, and there is no risk to other people and no special precautions are needed during sex.
→ READ MORE: How brachytherapy is done
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More resources
Prof Declan Murphy, Consultant Urologist, Director – Genitourinary Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and The University of Melbourne, VIC; Alan Barlee, Consumer; Dr Patrick Bowden, Radiation Oncologist, Epworth Hospital, Richmond, VIC; Bob Carnaby, Consumer; Dr Megan Crumbaker, Medical Oncologist, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, NSW; Henry McGregor, Health Physiotherapist, Adelaide Men’s Health Physio, SA; Jessica Medd, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Department of Urology, Concord Repatriation General Hospital and Headway Health, NSW; Dr Gary Morrison, Shine a Light (LGBTQIA+ Cancer Support Group); Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Graham Rees, Consumer; Kerry Santoro, Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse Consultant, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, SA; Prof Phillip Stricker, Chairman, Department of Urology, St Vincent’s Private Hospital, NSW; Dr Sylvia van Dyk, Brachytherapy Lead, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC.
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