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