Why it's done

Brachytherapy is used to treat several types of cancer, including:

• Bile duct cancer
• Brain cancer
• Breast cancer
• Cervical cancer
• Endometrial cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Eye cancer
• Head and neck cancers
• Lung cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Rectal cancer
• Skin cancer
• Soft tissue cancers
• Vaginal cancer

Brachytherapy can be used alone or in conjunction with other cancer treatments. For instance, brachytherapy is sometimes used after surgery to destroy any cancer cells that may remain. Brachytherapy can also be used along with external beam radiation.