BRACHYTHERAPY

Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer

Internal implantation radiotherapy is frequently used to treat patients with prostate cancer. By placing radioactive pellets (commonly called “seeds”) into prostate tissue, a high dose of radiation is given to the cancer with relative sparing of adjacent normal tissues like the bladder and rectum.

At the University of Florida, prostate seed implantation is performed in an operating room by a team of physicians and technical support staff who are specialized in performing the procedure. The radioactive isotope used to make the seeds radioactive is called iodine-125. A prostate seed implant is a permanent implant, meaning that the seeds stay in the prostate forever.

Seeds are inserted into the prostate by placing a series of needles through the skin between the testicles and anus. Anesthesia is used so the patient feels no discomfort during the procedure. A combination of transrectal ultrasound and x-ray fluoroscopy is used to guide seed placement. A seed implant procedure takes about 1.5 hours.

After leaving the operating room the patient spends one night in the hospital. Most patients are sent home the morning after the procedure.

The main side-effect of a prostate seed implant is irritation with urination. Patients often report that they have to urinate frequently and they have to get to the bathroom right away after feeling the urge to urinate. The symptoms usually go away after 4-6 months.

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