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