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Brachytherapy for cervical cancer | Booking Health

Brachytherapy for cervical cancer

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If you need information about innovative treatments for stage 4 cervical cancer in Germany, you can find it

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Cervical cancer is a disease that requires complex treatment. Surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy are used for the treatment of cervical cancer. In turn, radiation therapy is divided into external and internal (brachytherapy) therapy.

Content

  1. Brachytherapy for cervical cancer
  2. Types of brachytherapy
  3. How is the brachytherapy procedure carried out?
  4. Where can I undergo brachytherapy?
  5. Costs for brachytherapy and chemotherapy in different countries
  6. Benefits of brachytherapy in foreign clinics
  7. Selection of the clinic specializing in brachytherapy for cervical cancer
  8. How can I undergo treatment abroad?

Brachytherapy for cervical cancer

 

What is brachytherapy? Brachytherapy involves the placement of a radioactive source near the affected organ: in the cervix or the upper part of the vagina (if a hysterectomy was performed). Thus, brachytherapy allows the doctor to direct the maximum dose of radiation to the organ, which is affected by the tumor, and at the same, time limit the irradiation of adjacent healthy tissues.

Closed radioactive sources are used in brachytherapy. These can be radioactive isotopes of iridium or cobalt. With the help of special medical equipment, radioactive sources are inserted into the vagina and removed after a certain time.

Brachytherapy can be effectively applied at any stage of cervical cancer, but it is worth noting that brachytherapy is always used in combination with other treatment methods. Such a comprehensive approach will eventually lead to recovery.

Types of brachytherapy

 

In foreign clinics, brachytherapy for cervical cancer is carried out in two ways. Both methods are equally effective. They differ only in the irradiation dose.

The following types of brachytherapy are used for cervical cancer treatment:

  • Low-dose brachytherapy (LDR) assumes the usage of a radioactive source with a moderate dose rate. An applicator with a radioactive source is inserted in the cervix or the upper part of the vagina. The device is removed in 1-2 days. Hospitalization is required for LDR brachytherapy.
  • High dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy assumes the use of a radioactive source with a higher dose rate (over 12 Gy/hr), due to which the treatment can be carried out in a shorter time. The doctor inserts an applicator with a radioactive source into the cervix or the upper part of the vagina, and after 20-30 minutes it is removed. HDR brachytherapy is performed on an outpatient basis.

In general, patients tolerate the procedure well. Therefore, there is no need for rehabilitation after brachytherapy and a long stay in hospital.

 

Brachytherapy for cervical cancer

 

How is the brachytherapy procedure carried out?

 

High-dose-rate brachytherapy is often performed in foreign clinics. Patients usually have 1 high-dose-rate brachytherapy session per week. The whole treatment course can last 4-5 weeks.

Main stages of high-dose-rate brachytherapy:

  1. Planning stage. The patient undergoes a pelvis MRI. According to images obtained, doctors determine the location of the tumor and adjacent healthy tissues and organs. Based on this data, radiologists calculate the optimal radiation dose and determine the location of the applicator.
  2. Implantation stage. The procedure is performed under anesthesia. The doctor inserts an applicator in the cervix (upper part of the vagina), and the device is fixed with gauze tampons.
  3. Radiotherapy stage. The implanted applicator is connected to the tubes of the brachytherapy system. The equipment supplies radioactive granules to the applicator independently. After procedure completion, the radioactive granules are returned automatically to the special storage of the equipment. The applicator is extracted.

A month after treatment completion, it is necessary to undergo an examination. Thus, the doctor will be able to assess the effectiveness of brachytherapy and make adjustments to the treatment plan, if necessary.

Where can I undergo brachytherapy?

 

More and more women with cervical cancer from the CIS seek medical care in foreign clinics. They want to undergo more modern and high-quality treatment, and their expectations are met here fully.

In particular, brachytherapy for cervical cancer is available in the following countries:

  • Germany
  • Israel
  • Turkey
  • South Korea

The total cost of brachytherapy for cervical cancer will depend on the prices of a particular clinic, the method of brachytherapy, the number of procedures, and the duration of hospital stay.

Costs for brachytherapy and chemotherapy in different countries

 

 Average price
Germany 32,400 EUR
Israel 41,900 EUR

 

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Benefits of brachytherapy in foreign clinics

 

Germany, Israel, and Turkey are the undisputed leaders in cancer treatment. These countries have everything you need for malignant tumor treatment, including cervical cancer.

Benefits of brachytherapy in the listed countries:

  • Brachytherapy is performed by highly qualified doctors with extensive practical experience
  • The procedure is carried out using modern automated equipment
  • Low risk of complications due to careful computer planning of the brachytherapy session and accurate calculation of the radiation dose
  • High level of services and comfortable conditions of stay in the hospital

Selection of the clinic specializing in brachytherapy for cervical cancer

 

The leaders in the field of cervical cancer treatment are the countries of Central and Western Europe, particularly – Germany. Germany practices an integrative approach to the treatment of reproductive system malignant tumors in women. The specialists assess the benefits and risks of each therapeutic intervention in a particular patient and only then elaborate on the treatment regimen.

However, in the presence of absolute indications for radiation therapy in cervical cancer, specialists choose between external radiation therapy, low dose rate, and high dose-rate brachytherapy (internal radiation therapy). The most authoritative German hospitals in this field are:

  1. Helios Hospital Berlin-Buch, Department of Oncology and Palliative Care
  2. St. Vincentius Hospital Karlsruhe – Academic Hospital of the University of Freiburg, Department of Hematology, Oncology, Immunology and Palliative Care
  3. MediClin Robert Janker Clinic, Department of Oncology and Palliative Care
  4. Medias Cancer Clinic Burghausen, Department of Oncology and Surgical Oncology
  5. University Hospital Ulm, Department of Hematology, Oncology, Palliative Care, Rheumatology and Infectology

As a rule, children and adults receive a treatment in the same department at the large university hospitals. This is another evidence of the high qualifications of operating gynecologists and oncologists, who consider the peculiarities of interventions in patients of different age groups.

How can I undergo treatment abroad?

 

The medical tourism operator Booking Health will help you organize treatment abroad. We will select a hospital abroad, which demonstrates the best results in the treatment of cervical cancer, and we will book a treatment program. You do not need to worry about anything because the specialists in our company will take care of all the issues.

Booking Health provides the following services:

  • Communication with the clinic
  • Translation of medical documents
  • Assistance in visa application and provision of health insurance
  • Provision of favorable costs for treatment due to avoiding overpricing and additional coefficients for foreign patients
  • Provision of travel services: booking airline tickets and hotels, organization of transfer from the airport, accompaniment by an interpreter

A personal manager will prepare you for a trip abroad. He will stay in touch all the time and help you solve any issue.

 

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Choose treatment abroad and you will for sure get the best results!


Authors:

The article was edited by medical experts, board certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda IvanisovaAlexandra Solovey. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!

 

Sources:

American Cancer Society

Cancer. Net

Canadian Cancer Society

 

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