Researchers are studying internal radiation, sometimes called partial-breast radiation or brachytherapy, for use after lumpectomy to see how the benefits compare to the current standard of external radiation to the whole breast. Internal radiation methods typically use small pieces of radioactive material, called seeds, which are placed in the area around where the cancer was. The seeds emit radiation into the surrounding tissue. The area that's very close to the site of the original cancer is the area that is at highest risk of recurrence.

Internal radiation is most commonly delivered using multiple small tubes or catheters, or using a balloon-catheter device called MammoSite.

• In multi-catheter internal radiation, tiny tubes (catheters) are sewn under the skin in the area where the cancer was. The ends of the tubes stick out through little holes in the skin. Tiny stitches hold the tubes in place.
  
  The doctor or a machine places radioactive seeds into the tubes just long enough to deliver the prescribed dose. If low-dose radiation seeds are used, the treatment can take a few days. During treatment, you stay in the hospital because there is radioactivity inside you. Special precautions are taken to keep you and those around you safe from the radiation. Once the treatment is done, the radioactive seeds, stitches, and tubes are removed. Then you can go home.
  
  If high-dose radioactive seeds are used, each seed might be left in for up to 10 minutes. The seeds are then removed and you are free to leave the treatment center. You do not remain radioactive after the seeds are removed. Once the course of treatment is done, the tubes are removed. The course of internal radiation treatment is usually 1 week (5 days), with 2 treatments each day.
• In balloon-catheter internal radiation (the MammoSite system), a special tube with a balloon on the end is used. With careful planning, the balloon is placed into the area where the cancer was. The tube comes out through a little hole in the skin. The balloon is filled with fluid to hold the balloon and tube snugly in place. The MammoSite can be inserted in an operating room or in a surgeon's office and stays in place about a week and a half.
  
  During each treatment, a machine places a radioactive seed into center of the balloon for about 5 to 10 minutes — just long enough to deliver the prescribed dose of radiation. A total of 10 treatments are usually given over 5 days. That means 2 treatments per day, about 6 hours apart. When the final treatment is done, the balloon is removed through the small hole in the skin.

Internal radiation boost

Internal radiation can be used for giving a boost dose at the end of an external radiation treatment regimen. A boost dose is a supplemental dose of radiation given towards the end of your treatment to target the area around where the tumor was. The boost dose is given in the same manner as regular internal radiation, using either small tubes or a balloon-catheter, and radioactive seeds. The boost dose will be calculated such that you’ll get a slightly higher amount of radiation each day than you did for the first few weeks of your regimen.

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