| Prostate brachytherapy (pronounced | | | | planning computer, which evaluates the position of the |
| bray-kee-ther-uh-pee), the implantation of radioactive | | | | prostate and generates a three-dimensional plan that |
| seeds into the prostate gland, is one of the standard | | | | dictates the precise placement of the |
| methods of successfully treating prostate cancer. The | | | | seeds.Preparation for the Procedure |
| tiny radioactive seeds are smaller than grains of rice.A | | | | Most candidates for prostate brachytherapy undergo |
| prostate seed implant may be the only type of | | | | blood tests, a chest x-ray and an EKG several days |
| radiation therapy needed by a man with low-risk | | | | prior to the implant, in order to be approved for |
| prostate cancer or it may be prescribed in addition to | | | | anesthesia. On the morning of the procedure, men |
| external beam radiation therapy in men with | | | | receive an enema to help optimize the quality of the |
| intermediate- and high- risk prostate cancer. The goal | | | | transrectal ultrasound images. In addition, blood thinners |
| is to eradicate cancer cells while preserving healthy, | | | | are discontinued several days prior to the procedure to |
| surrounding tissue, such as the bladder, the urethra (the | | | | help diminish the risk of bleeding.Day of the Procedure |
| tube that connects the bladder to the penis), and the | | | | Typically, men who are scheduled to undergo seed |
| rectum.The advantages of prostate seed implants are | | | | placement arrive early in the morning. Next, the man is |
| significant. Fist, the procedure requires only minor | | | | taken to the operating room for the procedure, where |
| surgery, usually causing fewer side effects than other | | | | he undergoes either general or spinal anesthesia. Then, |
| treatments. Also, it is generally a same day, outpatient | | | | the radiation oncologist and the urologist work as a |
| procedure. Men usually are able to return to work | | | | team to implant the seeds into the prostate, using |
| within several days, as long as they feel well enough. In | | | | transrectal ultrasound to guide the placement.The |
| addition, recent reports suggest that the procedure, | | | | Implant Process |
| when performed on properly selected men, is at least | | | | Using the treatment plan and fluoroscopy (real-time |
| as effective as surgery to cure prostate cancer. | | | | x-ray), the radiation oncologist places the seeds within |
| Radiation exposure to other people is minimal, so | | | | the prostate. The entire procedure usually takes less |
| restrictions do not apply unless the man is returning to | | | | than one hour. After the seed placement, the urologist |
| a setting where a young child or pregnant woman is | | | | performs a cystoscopy (a procedure in which a |
| present.Treatment Planning | | | | slender, flexible, fiber optic scope is inserted from the |
| Men undergo a pre-implant ultrasound study to | | | | penis into the bladder), to look for and remove any |
| determine where the radioactive seeds (and the | | | | seeds that dislodged in the bladder or the urethra. |
| needles to implant them) should be placed. A | | | | Within the few next days, a CT scan is obtained to |
| transrectal ultrasound, wherein an ultrasound probe is | | | | verify the placement of the seeds.Prostate Seed |
| carefully positioned in the rectum to view the entire | | | | Implants: Recovery |
| prostate, is performed. Images of the prostate are | | | | Because prostate implants do not involve major |
| taken and are transferred to a special treatment | | | | surgery, side effects are rarely severe. |