Intraoperative Brachytherapy Treatment in India
About Intraoperative Brachytherapy
Key Highlights
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Precision Targeting: Delivers radiation directly to the tumor bed with millimeter accuracy, minimizing damage to healthy organs.Single-Session Convenience: Often completed in one session during surgery, reducing overall treatment time compared to external beam radiotherapy.Enhanced Efficacy: Allows for a higher, more effective radiation dose to be given directly to the area at highest risk for cancer recurrence.listrongOrgan Preservation:/strong Can be a critical technique in surgeries aimed at preserving organ function, such as in breast or rectal cancer./lilistrongMultidisciplinary Approach:/strong Involves close collaboration between the surgical oncologist and radiation oncologist for optimal patient outcomes./li/ul
Who is this surgery for?
- As a boost to external beam radiation therapy for locally advanced cancers (e.g., sarcoma, rectal, cervical).
- Treatment of localized recurrences in previously irradiated areas.
- Management of positive or close surgical margins after tumor resection where re-excision is not feasible.
- Primary or adjuvant treatment for early-stage breast cancer (e.g., Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation - APBI).
- Treatment of biliary tract or pancreatic cancers to improve local control.
- Adjuvant therapy for soft tissue sarcomas where wide surgical margins are difficult to achieve.
How to prepare
- Comprehensive pre-operative evaluation including imaging (CT, MRI) to precisely map the tumor location and volume.
- Multidisciplinary team meeting (Tumor Board) involving the surgical oncologist, radiation oncologist, and medical oncologist to plan the procedure.
- Detailed patient counseling about the procedure, benefits, risks, and the intraoperative experience.
- Standard pre-surgical preparations: fasting, blood tests, and management of current medications as advised by the surgical team.
- Planning and calibration of the brachytherapy equipment and radioactive sources by the medical physics team.
Risks & possible complications
- Short-term: Pain, swelling, or bruising at the treatment site; risk of infection or bleeding related to the surgical procedure.
- Wound Healing Issues: Potential for delayed wound healing or wound breakdown due to the combined effects of surgery and radiation.
- Long-term Tissue Effects: Fibrosis (thickening/scarring of tissue), skin changes, or telangiectasias (small visible blood vessels) in the treated area.
- Organ-Specific Risks: Depending on the treatment site, risks may include bowel obstruction, fistula formation, or nerve damage.
- Very Rare: Secondary malignancy due to radiation exposure, though the highly localized nature of IOBT minimizes this risk.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Initial recovery is primarily from the surgical procedure, with hospital stay dictated by the type of surgery performed.
- Patients may experience fatigue, which is common after both surgery and radiation. Adequate rest is important.
- Careful monitoring and care of the surgical incision site as per the surgeon's instructions to prevent infection.
- Follow-up appointments with both the surgical and radiation oncology teams to monitor healing and treatment response.
- Most patients can resume light activities within a few days to a week, with a gradual return to normal activities over several weeks, avoiding strenuous exercise until cleared by the doctor.
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Typical hospital stay:
2-5 days
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Expected recovery time:
2-6 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering intraoperative brachytherapy in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Popular choices for intraoperative brachytherapy in India include Cytecare Hospital, known for experienced specialists and advanced surgical infrastructure.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform intraoperative brachytherapy. MediFyr helps you compare radiation oncologists and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for intraoperative brachytherapy compare across other countries where we have data.
Top hospitals for Intraoperative Brachytherapy in India
These partner hospitals in India have dedicated radiation oncology teams and experience managing patients undergoing intraoperative brachytherapy.
Bangalore, India
48 DoctorsVihaan Johnson, a 58-year-old high school...
Vihaan Johnson, a 58-year-old high school history teacher and father of three, had been experiencing persistent rectal bleeding and pain for months, which he initially dismissed as hemorrhoids. A colonoscopy revealed a 3cm low-lying rectal adenocarcinoma. His surgical oncologist explained that due to the tumor's location near the anal sphincter, a standard surgery would likely require a permanent colostomy. Desperate to avoid this life-altering outcome, Vihaan was referred to a radiation oncologist. The doctor recommended a combination of chemotherapy, radiation, and a sphincter-sparing surgery with intraoperative brachytherapy. The brachytherapy would deliver a precise, high-dose radiation boost directly to the tumor bed during surgery, maximizing the chance of curing the cancer while preserving the sphincter. During the long, complex operation, Vihaan was unaware of the moment the radiation oncologist placed the brachytherapy applicator. His recovery in the hospital was challenging, with pain and fatigue, but he was fiercely motivated by the news that his margins were clear and his sphincter was intact. Six months later, Vihaan's bowel function is nearly normal, and he has returned to teaching. His emotional journey swung from the terror of a cancer diagnosis and the dread of a colostomy bag to profound gratitude. He feels the intraoperative brachytherapy gave him back not just his health, but his dignity and quality of life, allowing him to be the active father and teacher he always was.
Radiation Oncologists for Intraoperative Brachytherapy
Explore experienced radiation oncologists who regularly perform intraoperative brachytherapy and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.
- 35 Years Experience
- Radiation Oncologist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 15 Years Experience
- Radiation Oncologist
Manipal Hospital Vijayawada, vijayawada
- 13 Years Experience
- Radiation Oncologist
Manipal Hospital Vijayawada, vijayawada
- 13 Years Experience
- Radiation Oncologist
Manipal Hospital Vijayawada, vijayawada
- 31 Years Experience
- Radiation Oncologist
- 24 Years Experience
- Radiation Oncologist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 20 Years Experience
- Radiation Oncologist
Metro Hospital, Sector 11, Noida
- 16 Years Experience
- Radiation Oncologist
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 8 Years Experience
- Radiation Oncologist
- 5 Years Experience
- Radiation Oncologist
- 9 Years Experience
- Radiation Oncologist
Manipal Hospital Dwarka, Delhi
- 24 Years Experience
- Radiation Oncologist
Manipal Hospital Mukundapur, Kolkata
- 20 Years Experience
- Radiation Oncologist
Manipal Hospital Dhakuria, Kolkata
- 31 Years Experience
- Radiation Oncologist
Manipal Hospital Dhakuria, Kolkata
- 16 Years Experience
- Radiation Oncologist
Manipal Hospital Dhakuria, Kolkata
- 31 Years Experience
- Radiation Oncologist
Manipal Hospital Dhakuria, Kolkata
- 11 Years Experience
- Radiation Oncologist
Manipal Hospital Dhakuria, Kolkata
- 30 Years Experience
- Radiation Oncologist
Manipal Hospital Dhakuria, Kolkata
- 12 Years Experience
- Radiation Oncologist
Manipal Hospital Dhakuria, Kolkata
- 14 Years Experience
- Radiation Oncologist
Manipal Hospital Dhakuria, Kolkata