Radium Implants for Cancer Treatment

Cancer is quickly becoming one of the most common medical problems in the world. Treatments are constantly evolving however, and one of these treatments is radium implants inside patients to help shrink their cancer.

Radium

• Radium is a rare, white, luminescent and highly radioactive element that's found in uranium.

Implants

• Small pieces of radium are placed inside capsules, often called seeds, which will be placed near cancerous tissues. The radiation stops or slows the growth of the cancer cells.

Procedure

• The procedure for implanting radium capsules near cancerous tissue is relatively simple. General anesthetic is administered, a small opening is made and the capsule is inserted.

Recovery

• Radium implant surgery doesn't usually require hospitalization, but if it does it won't be for more than a few days.

Removal

• The radium capsule will eventually have to be removed. The time frame for the removal will depend on how well the treatment is working, and the judgment of the doctor.