Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer
Prostate Brachytherapy
Prostate brachytherapy involves treating the cancer by inserting radioactive sources directly into the gland. This is usually the only radiation therapy you will need, but it is occasionally combined with external radiation.
- Permanent seed implants (sometimes seed implants or low-dose-rate [LDR] brachytherapy) are given by inserting small metal seeds of radioactive iodine or palladium directly into the prostate gland. You will be under anesthesia during this brief outpatient surgery procedure. (Outpatient surgery means you can go home shortly after surgery.) The seeds are temporarily radioactive and deliver the radiation to the prostate over several weeks. After losing their radioactivity, the seeds remain in the prostate.
The seeds are then harmless and should not bother you. For the short time that the seeds are giving off radiation, men are asked not to be in close proximity to children or pregnant women because of the very small chance that the radiation may harm their rapidly growing bodies. Ask your radiation oncologist or oncology nurse if you need more specific instructions or if you have any concerns about pets or family members.
- High-dose-rate prostate implants deliver radiation to the prostate with a few treatments using a single small radioactive iridium source on the end of a computer controlled flexible wire. The radiation is given through narrow tubes called catheters inserted into the prostate by your radiation oncologist. You will be under anesthesia and will not feel any pain. The tubes remain in place for only one or two days. Once the treatment is complete, the tubes and the radioactive source are taken out. After this type of radiation, you will not need to take special precautions around others.
