Internal radiotherapy by high dose rate brachytherapy (HDR)

When brachytherapy is prescribed, you will be asked for a biological assessment will be required for general anaesthesia.

This treatment is delivered alone or associated with other treatments: radiotherapy, surgery chemotherapy.

An appointment is given for the first session.

Upon your arrival, you will check in at the radiotherapy reception desk and then be directed to a waiting room, where you will meet the anesthesiologist.

You will then be asked to undress completely and put on a sterile gown and slippers before being transferred to the operating room.

You will be greeted by the radiation therapist and the anesthesiologist, who will decide on which technique will be more suitable for your condition: general anaesthesia or epidural.

Then you will be asked to lie on the table in a gynaecological position where you will be anaesthetised.

The radiotherapist will insert an applicator device into your vagina under ultrasound control to receive the radioactive source.

Then you will be transferred to the scanner.

This examination aims to verify the correct positioning of the applicator concerning the tumour and to obtain images of the area to be treated as well as the adjacent healthy organs.

The obtained images will be transferred to the medical physicist, who will set the treatment plan: by defining the maximum irradiation doses to administer to the tumour and minimizing them on the adjacent healthy organs and tissues.

During this time, you will be carried to a separate room.

As soon as the treatment plan is set, you will be transferred to the brachytherapy room, where you will receive the prescribed treatment. The duration of the irradiation is five minutes.

Throughout your stay in the brachytherapy room, you will be in constant audio and video contact with the doctor manipulating the equipment. You will be transported to a room at the end of the session.

The total duration of your stay at the centre will be about 3 hours.