Patient Information

Patient Experience: Radiation

Vaginal Cylinder

In other patients, vaginal cylinders may be used. Vaginal cylinders have a central, hollow, metallic cylinder in which radioactive sources are placed, and are most commonly used in women who have had a hysterectomy.

Before a cylinder procedure, you do not need to do any special preparation. The procedure is performed using HDR only as an outpatient. You may receive external beam radiation before a cylinder treatment starts. There may be a one week wait between the external beam and the cylinder.

During the cylinder procedure, you will first be brought in a gown into the brachytherapy suite. You will lie flat on the treatment table. A manual examination confirms the dimensions of the vagina. A cylinder is inserted into the vagina, and attached to the brachytherapy board. A CT simulation confirms proper placement. A treatment plan is generated and the treatment administered. Though there are many variations, the first treatment typically takes a little more than an hour, and subsequent treatments may be shorter. The cylinder is removed.

After a cylinder procedure, you may experience some spotting or bleeding from your vagina. You may experience a slight sensation of burning with urination which resolves on its own over the next day; if not, a urine culture will be performed to check for a urinary tract infection. The radiation sometimes causes the tissue in the vagina to tighten and narrow. You will be given a dilator to prevent narrowing or tightening of the vagina from radiation. Other side effects will be discussed with you by your physicians, some of which may be specific to your situation.