| t times, brachytherapy is done as an outpatient | | | | activities once you are through with these |
| procedure. This means you will not need to spend a | | | | treatments as you are no longer radio active. The |
| night in the hospital. It is a procedure that takes | | | | catheter will be removed once your days of |
| around an hour whereby most people who undertake | | | | treatment are over. Thereafter your incision will be |
| it receive spinal anaesthesia meaning you become | | | | cleaned and closed. However as much as it is an |
| numb in the area where the catheters will be | | | | outpatient procedure, you should ensure you visit |
| inserted. You can also be given medication which will | | | | your doctor for check ups in case of anything. Ensure |
| most probably have you feeling dizzy. | | | | that you do not engage in activities that will stress |
| The doctor should ensure that you lie on your back | | | | the wound; more so heavy lifting and the like. You |
| comfortably during each treatment. Thereafter the | | | | should follow all the instructions that the doctor gives |
| catheter that you may be using is connected to the | | | | you just when you are about to be dismissed from |
| radiation machine. Whatever amount of the radiation | | | | the hospital. You should be able to do everything as |
| dose that will be administered will be in a form of | | | | normal in about 4 to 5 days but this is relative for |
| miniature x-ray source or tiny radioactive seeds. | | | | different people. |
| Through the catheters the radiation machine inserts | | | | You may experience some swelling and soreness |
| the dose. Once the treatment takes place, the | | | | directly after the procedure on the treatment area. |
| machine then removes the dose. During these | | | | This is accompanied by bruising sometimes. It will last |
| treatments, no radiation should remain inside your | | | | for a few days as it a mild case of bruising. You can |
| body. | | | | be on pain killers if necessary but the doctor should |
| You will need to rest in a recovery room once the | | | | be the one to prescribe that for you. |
| procedure is over for purposes of waiting for the | | | | For others the side effects can be become more |
| anaesthesia to wear off. This normally takes a few | | | | severe than mentioned. This will call for an immediate |
| hours. An ice bag can be placed on the area of | | | | visit to the doctor. Ensure that you understand what |
| treatment to aid in reducing the swelling but it | | | | these procedures are all about and ask questions to |
| depends. | | | | help you understand what you should and should not |
| You will be in a position to resume your normal | | | | do. |