Side Effects Of Brachytherapy For Skin Cancer

Brachytherapy causes similar side effects to external beam radiotherapy.
Side effects of brachytherapy for skin cancer. Side effects of brachytherapy are specific to the area being treated. Because brachytherapy focuses radiation in a small treatment area only that area is affected. Ask your doctor what other side effects can be expected from your treatment. Side effects may appear in the short term known as acute side effects which typically resolve soon after treatment.
What are the side effects of brachytherapy for skin cancer. Having brachytherapy with external beam radiotherapy may make some side effects more severe. Overall brachytherapy skin cancer treatments are very well tolerated. Brachytherapy for prostate cancer can cause problems getting and keeping an erection.
We offer individualized high dose rate hdr brachytherapy for skin cancer which minimizes the amount of radiation and side effects on nearby healthy tissues. These changes occur gradually are usually mild and heal soon after treatment. Some side effects may take several weeks to develop and may last for longer. With brachytherapy as with other treatments some long term side effects may be witnessed.
During the weeks of treatment you may experience limited skin redness itching or peeling. Long term side effects that may appear after brachytherapy 1 2 3 a slight mark or discolouration either hypo or hyper pigmentation of the skin at the area of radiation therapy may occur. Here at the ucla radiation oncology division of brachytherapy we are committed to making your cancer treatment a comfortable and successful experience.