Instead of zapping from outside, brachytherapy places radioactive seeds or sources inside the tumour. It's used for prostate, cervical, and breast cancer. The radiation oncology market research study shows that brachytherapy is a solid segment, but it's not the fastest‑growing. Why the resurgence? Because high‑dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy is now done in minutes, not hours, and with real‑time imaging.

What's the advantage? The radiation is concentrated where it's needed, sparing surrounding organs. For prostate cancer, brachytherapy has fewer urinary and sexual side effects than external beam. The radiation oncology market trends highlight that the fastest‑growing application is lung cancer, as new techniques allow brachytherapy for airway tumours.

But brachytherapy is operator‑dependent. A skilled radiation oncologist is essential. And some patients find the idea of radioactive seeds unsettling.

The message: if you have localised cancer, ask about brachytherapy. It's not new, but it's better than ever.