BRACHYTHERAPY MARKET ANALYSIS

Brachytherapy is a type of radiotherapy that is used in the treatment of various kinds of cancer. It is also known as internal radiotherapy or seed therapy. Unlike external beam radiotherapy, which delivers radiation from outside the body, brachytherapy works by precisely targeting the cancerous tumor from inside the body. Radioactive seeds are placed inside the cancerous tissue and are positioned in a manner that will attack the cancer most efficiently. The approach of targeting cancerous cells by brachytherapy reduces the risk of any damage to healthy tissues and organs surrounding the tumor, thereby reducing the potential side effects as well. Brachytherapy is used in the treatment for prostate, cervix, breast, and skin cancers and can also be used to treat tumors in other sites of the body such as the head and neck. Moreover, it is often used in combination with chemotherapy drugs to decrease the risk of recurring cancer. Brachytherapy are of two different types namely, permanent and temporary.

Rising prevalence of prostate cancer is expected to boost growth of the brachytherapy market

Rising number of prostate cancer cases are majorly driving growth of the brachytherapy market. According to the American Cancer Society, as of 2017, around 161,370 people are estimated to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and around 26,730 deaths are recorded due to prostate cancer in the U.S. Prostate cancer is the third-leading cause of death for men in the U.S. The other factors that are contributing to growth of the brachytherapy market include, rising adoption of high dose rate brachytherapy and increasing prevalence of obesity. However, side effects associated with radiation therapy such as hair loss, fatigue, appetite, and nausea are expected to hinder growth of the brachytherapy market.

Market Taxonomy:

The global brachytherapy market is segmented on the basis of type, application, and geography

On the basis of dose type, the global brachytherapy market is segmented into:

• High Dose Rate Brachytherapy
• Low Dose Rate Brachytherapy

On the basis of application, the global brachytherapy market is segmented into:

• Prostate Cancer
• Breast Cancer
• Gynecological Cancer
• Others

The innovative breast microseed treatment for breast cancer is expected to propel growth of the brachytherapy market in North America

On the basis of region, the global brachytherapy market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa. North America is expected to hold a dominant position, owing to the rising adoption of breast microseed treatment for breast cancer. Using brachytherapy, breast microseed treatment involves the precise placement of radioactive seeds in the breast that slowly release the prescribed dose safely over the period. This is an innovative treatment for early stage breast cancer, which affects 1 in 8 women in North America. For instance, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2014, around 236,968 women and 2,141 men were diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. Furthermore, Asia Pacific is expected to be the key region in the global brachytherapy market, owing to the launch of Esteya Machine in 2016, for skin cancer treatment. The treatment uses low energy x-rays to target the cancerous site, with the ability to treat multiple lesions at once and a reduced chance of scarring.

Key players involved in the brachytherapy market include Elekta, Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Theragenics Corporation, Sun Nuclear Corporation, Argon Medical Devices, Eckert & Ziegler BEBIG, IsoRay Medical, Cianna Medical, iCAD Inc., and CIVCO Medical Solutions. The key players are focusing on strategic mergers and acquisitions and development of innovative products. For instance, IsoRay Inc. in 2016, announced the launch of a pilot study using intraoperative placement of cesium-131 permanent interstitial brachytherapy in high risk recurrent head and neck cancer.