What are the side effects of brachytherapy?

What are the side effects of brachytherapy?

Side effects of brachytherapy can include swelling, bruising, bleeding, or pain and discomfort at the spot where the radiation was delivered. Brachytherapy used for gynecologic cancers or prostate cancer can lead to short-term urinary symptoms, including incontinence or pain on urination.

What happens after brachytherapy plaque?

Most people eventually lose vision in the area of their eye where the plaque was placed. The amount of vision loss depends on where the plaque was placed. You may notice vision loss 12 to 18 months after your treatment. You can talk with your doctor about the possibility of vision loss in your eye.

Is plaque therapy painful?

The implantation and removal of the radioactive plaque is generally performed under local anesthesia with sedation by specialists from Cole Eye Institute. This requires one or more injections around the eye to numb it. There is likely to be a moderate amount of pain on the day of surgery after the anesthesia wears off.

Is radiation bad for your eyes?

Possible side effects of radiation therapy The main concern with radiation therapy is damage to parts of the eye, leading to problems such as blurry vision, dry eye, cataracts, retinal detachment, glaucoma (increased pressure inside the eye), loss of eye lashes, problems with tear ducts, or bleeding into the eye.

Do cell phones cause cataracts?

Unwanted electromagnetic waves from electronic devices can be absorbed by the human body and interfere with detailed electronic instruments. For example, mobile phone usage is one of the suspected causes of premature cataracts [8] .

Does radiation treatment weaken your immune system?

Certain cancer treatments (such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, stem cell or bone marrow transplant, or steroids) or the cancer itself can suppress or weaken the immune system. These treatments can lower the number of white blood cells (WBCs) and other immune system cells.

Does brachytherapy lower your immune system?

Radiation therapy can potentially affect your immune system, especially if a significant amount of bone marrow is being irradiated because of its role in creating white blood cells. However, this doesn’t typically suppress the immune system enough to make you more susceptible to infections.

What causes plaque in the eye?

Causes. Usually, the blockage comes from a blood clot. The clot may form in the retina or travel there from another part of the body. The blockage also can happen after a piece of fatty plaque plugs the artery.