Treating Prostate Cancer - Prostate Brachytherapy

The prostate is gland about the size and shape of a walnut that serves a number of urinary and reproductive functions in men. Unfortunately the prostate gland is a common location for cancer—prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and the second most common cause of cancer death. When prostate cancer occurs, one treatment method is removal of the entire gland, however this causes a number of problems including difficulty with urination and impotence. Prostate brachytherapy is an alternative to surgical removal of the prostate that has been quite successful in treating cancer and preserving prostate function.

 

 

Prostate brachytherapy, also called radioactive seed implantation, is a form of cancer treatment for certain types of prostate cancer. A number of radioactive pellets that resemble seeds are placed at regular intervals throughout the prostate gland. Each seed only emits a small amount of radiation in an area surrounding the pellet. Thus the total amount of radiation in the body is rather small and mostly contained within the prostate. Any cancer cells within this sphere of prostate brachytherapy radioactivity are disrupted or destroyed. The prostate brachytherapy seeds are so small that the function of the prostate gland is preserved. Despite the small amount of radiation used in prostate seed brachytherapy, certain precautions should be taken if prolonged exposure to others is necessary. Your doctor will discuss these precautions with you, like lead-lined undergarments and limiting exposure times. While the seeds remain in the prostate forever, the radioactivity of the prostate brachytherapy seeds decays over time. Therefore exposure precautions will be less as time after the prostate brachytherapy prodecure passes.

 

The prostate brachytherapy procedure requires several preparatory steps. First, an ultrasound imaging study of the prostate must be done called a volume study. This procedure is painless and provides the urologist with a detailed set of pictures of your prostate so that the prostate brachytherapy seeds can be placed appropriately. An ultrasound may have been done during prostate cancer biopsy phase as well. Similar to any surgery, the patient that is considering prostate brachytherapy must be healthy enough to undergo general anesthesia. This will be determined during a pre-operation physical performed by an internist or family physician. Immediately prior to prostate brachytherapy, anticoagulant medications must be stopped for a period of time. Also, the patient’s bowel must be prepped which means that a liquid must be consumed that clears the large intestine of all fecal matter. This is done to reduce the chance of infection. Also for infection control, antibiotics will be given before and after the prostate brachytherapy procedure.

 

It is normal for prostate brachytherapy to cause some blood to show up in the urine or ejaculate. Many people report increased frequency in the urination for a period of time after prostate brachytherapy. Certain medicines can be given to reduce the inflammation of the prostate that causes this increased frequency. Impotence may still occur with prostate brachytherapy, so it is important to discuss this possibility with your doctor as you are deciding which prostate cancer therapy is right for you.