Does brachytherapy prove effective for any kind of cancer other than prostate cancer?

Breast Cancer: Brachytherapy has been used for breast cancer rx for over 30 years; however, it's only been perfected over the past decade, utilizing special catheters placed into the breast followed by twice-daily treatments for 5 days. While "not for everyone", it is an effective option for some patients with early breast cancer. This is particularly useful if travel to radiation centers is an issue.

Yes,for limb sarcoma: Brachytherapy following wide local excision for high grade sarcomas of the limbs and abdominal wall has led to increased survival and limb salvage.

Yes: While brachytherapy is usually used for prostate cancer, it has been used for other tumors. In urology specifically, it has proven effective as a penile saving therapy for penile cancer. Dr. Crook in bc, vancouver has produced amazing research in this regard.

"Brachy" is a: Greek root, meaning "short". The range of XRT is short, when the isotope is implanted, or applied through an opening. Cervix cancer is the prime use, but a subset of radiation oncologists are deeply interested, conceptually and technically, in delivering very high dose where the tumor is, and very little to adjacent tissues due to the short range.

Handful: Brachytherapy is a term used to describe the short acting nature of very high doses of radiation. It works close to the target to deliver dose without exposing many other tissues to dose. It is used most commonly in prostate and gyn cancers. It can b used in a lot of situations in well trained hands. Second most common uses are in the lung, breast, head and neck, esophagus, rectum, and skin.

Yes - many: Brachy is an art that requires skill as it can involves surgical methodologies. It is used in: sarcoma head and neck tumors gynecological tumors esophageal tumors (was used in cardiac stents before coating...) skin cancer breast cancer lung cancer pediatric cancers pelvic side wall tumors elegant work in lower resource locaitons (india) reminds one in the field that not all good work costs....