Brachytherapy (radioactive implant treatment)

Doctors use brachytherapy to treat a number of different cancers. It might be the only type of radiotherapy you need or you might have it with external radiotherapy. Find out about the different types of brachytherapy.

What is brachytherapy?

A sealed radioactive material called a source is put inside the body, into or next to the cancer. Some types stay in the body for a very short time and some are permanent.

Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT)

Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) is a type of brachytherapy used to treat tumours in the liver. This is usually for bowel cancer that has spread to the liver (liver secondaries). 

Last reviewed: 
24 Nov 2023
Next review due: 
24 Nov 2026