Radiotherapy wires

Radioactive wires may be used to treat a number of cancers including those in the

• Mouth and lip
• Nasopharynx
• Breast
• Anus
• Vagina
• Oesophagus
• Lung
• Penis
• Bile duct
• Urethra (tube from the bladder to outside the body)

There are 2 main ways of using radiotherapy wires. Giving radiotherapy in this way is called brachytherapy. Very thin radioactive wires are put into your body close to the cancer while you are under a general anaesthetic in the operating room. Or, fine hollow needles or tubes may be used and a radioactive metal such as caesium or iridium is then put into the hollow tubes. You may have an X-ray afterwards to make sure the wires are in the right position. You may hear the doctors call the wires an implant. You may have all your radiotherapy this way. Or you may also have external radiotherapy.

While you have the wires in your body, you are nursed in a separate room. Staff and visitors will need to follow internal radiotherapy safety procedures until the wires are removed. This is usually after 3 to 4 days, but may be up to a week depending on which part of your body is being treated. You may have the wires taken out under general anaesthetic as this can be painful.

Implants in your mouth can be very uncomfortable. They can make eating and talking difficult. You may need to have a soft or liquid diet while the needles are in place. Your nurse will show you how to keep your mouth clean by using a mouthwash.

The wires are taken out once you have had the correct dose of radiation. This may be

• After two days, if the wires are a booster treatment after external radiotherapy
• Or up to one week if it is given as your only treatment

Once the implant is taken out the area will feel sore for up to two or three weeks afterwards.