Ashdod Hospital Launches First Brachytherapy Unit in Southern Israel for Cancer Patients
Three months ago, Batel Eden, a mother of eight from Ashdod, was diagnosed with advanced gynecological cancer following a urinary tract infection. She is now the first patient to receive internal radiation therapy, known as brachytherapy, at the newly opened unit at Assuta Ashdod Public Hospital. This new brachytherapy unit, part of the hospital's radiotherapy institute, is the only one offering such treatment from south of the Tel Aviv metropolitan area to Eilat, providing critical access for hundreds of women in the region.
Brachytherapy delivers precise radiation directly into or near the tumor, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. The unit currently treats gynecological cancers and plans to expand services to prostate and rectal cancers, aiming to serve approximately 1,500 patients annually. Batel Eden began a combined treatment regimen including external radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and now brachytherapy, which she is expected to complete soon.
The unit features a radiation treatment room, procedure room, recovery area, and comprehensive patient support including specialized nursing, emotional support, and nutritional guidance. Dr. Evgenia Bersudsky, a radiation oncology specialist trained in brachytherapy in Israel and the US, leads the unit. Eden expressed relief at receiving intensive treatment close to home, avoiding difficult travel to central Israel, and highlighted the emotional and physical challenges she faced as the unit’s first patient.
Dr. Eli Sapir, director of the radiotherapy institute, explained that brachytherapy allows higher radiation doses directly to tumors, improving cure rates and survival compared to external radiation alone. Chemotherapy complements radiation by targeting potential cancer spread. Eden has used her social media presence to raise awareness about the importance of routine cancer screening, urging women not to delay tests like Pap smears.
Hospital CEO Dr. Galit Kaufman emphasized the strategic importance of establishing the brachytherapy unit in southern Israel to reduce geographic disparities in cancer care. Medical director Dr. Hagit Sarvagil-Maman noted the unit strengthens the hospital’s position as a leading cancer center in the south. The new service represents a significant advancement in comprehensive, advanced cancer treatment available locally for southern Israeli patients.
