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