By Ansley Franco
When the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the O’Neal Cancer Center opened the state’s first fully integrated brachytherapy suite in October 2025, the milestone marked more than a technological upgrade. It represented a fundamental shift in how some of Alabama’s most complex cancer patients experience care.
Brachytherapy is a form of internal radiation therapy where radioactive sources are placed directly inside or near a tumor. For select cancers, brachytherapy is the preferred method of treatment due to its precision and effectiveness.
By delivering high doses of radiation directly to the tumor while avoiding surrounding healthy tissue, clinicians can maximize tumor control while minimizing side effects. That precision translates into higher cure rates and better long-term outcomes for those with certain gynecologic cancers and some prostate cancers.
“It’s a highly targeted, evidence-based treatment that plays a critical role in modern cancer care, and having the right infrastructure is essential to delivering it safely and effectively,” Samuel Marcrom, MD, associate medical director of Brachytherapy at UAB Medicine, said.
However, the infrastructure for administering the treatment has traditionally been fragmented. It would often require patients to move between multiple rooms or departments for various parts of the therapy, such as the applicator placement, imaging, treatment planning and radiation delivery.
“That fragmentation meant longer days, more waiting, more uncertainty, and in some cases, additional discomfort during a very vulnerable time,” Marcrom said. “The new brachytherapy suite was designed entirely around the patient experience.”
The UAB suite consolidates every step of the process into a single, calmer space that allows patients to move around less and have a shortened treatment time. The radioactive applicators are placed, imaged and treated in the suite, which can enhance accuracy and consistency. Because patients are no longer transported between rooms, it eliminates delays, handoffs and unnecessary transitions.
That consistency reduces opportunities for error and allows clinicians to make real-time decisions with greater confidence.
“This integration is transformative. The care team works together in real time, which allows us to make decisions quickly and confidently, all of which ultimately benefits the patient,” Marcrom said. “Patients can focus on healing rather than logistics, which is a meaningful improvement in comfort and dignity during care.”
UAB estimates the new workflow can reduce treatment times by as much as 50 to 60 percent. For patients, that time savings carries both physical and emotional weight. Shorter procedures mean less time in uncomfortable positions, reduced need for pain medication and less fatigue. Emotionally, it can ease anxiety and help patients feel that treatment is not consuming their entire day, as well their lives.
“Many patients describe cancer treatment as exhausting, not just physically, but mentally” Marcrom said. “Being able to complete treatments more efficiently helps restore a sense of normalcy and control. It allows patients to recover more quickly, spend time with loved ones and maintain a better quality of life during therapy.”
As the only brachytherapy suite of its kind in Alabama, the new facility also addresses a longstanding access gap. Previously, some patients had to travel long distances or find care out of state to receive this kind of specialized care. Those barriers could delay treatment or make it unattainable altogether.
“Now patients can receive world-class brachytherapy close to home. That’s especially important for patients undergoing complex cancer treatment, who benefit enormously from being near their support systems,” Marcrom said. “This suite helps ensure that geography is no longer a limiting factor in receiving high-quality cancer care in Alabama.”
The benefits extend to clinicians as well. The streamlined workflow improves communication and efficiency, reduces fatigue and allows care teams to practice at the highest level of their training. That, Marcrom said, directly translates into better outcomes for everyone involved.
“This type of investment reflects UAB’s role as Alabama’s academic medical center and a leader in advanced cancer care,” Marcrom said. “By investing in specialized infrastructure like this brachytherapy suite, UAB is setting a new standard for radiation oncology in Alabama. It reinforces our role as a referral center for complex cases and ensures that patients across the state have access to cutting-edge, evidence-based treatments.”
Moving forward, the suite is expected to support expanded clinical capacity, new techniques and research initiatives. It will also serve as a training ground for future specialists and research.
“Ultimately, this suite is not just an investment in today’s patients, but in the future of cancer care at UAB and across the region,” Marcrom said.