Brachytherapy

Hi, My husband was dx: with pc in March. He is having the

brachytherapy, Tuesday 04/15/08. His urologist and RO are

doing the procedure at one of our small local hospitals. I really

wanted him to go to a large medical center. Any comment or

advise would be appreicated. His Gleason grade 3+3= 6, 6.7

PSA, T1c. He will get the Pd-103 Theraseed implants. Hope

and blessings to all.  Beanie

 

 

 

the optimal treatment of localized PC is not well defined, but at least you have several options.  RP, watchful waiting, EBRT, EBRT + hormones and brachy are all options.  Some would say brachy has less impotence but more urinary tract problems.  Outcomes appear to be similiar between RP, EBRT and brachy.  Best of luck with your choice.

I was diagnose with prostate cancer in Sept. 2007. From my research at the different methods; radiation treatment and prostectomy I felt that radiation treatment of any kind could cause alot of peripheral damage to the surrounding structures--bladder, rectal wall, rectal sphincter, bladder sphincter. One urologist even went so far as stating that radiation treatment would not be recommended for a man of my age, 60 years old. In one site it was stated the patients with Brachytherapy treatment should not be around pregnant women and I think children but not sure of that one due to radiation coming off their body from the implants.

 In my search I came across a new procedure called HIFU (High intensity focus ultrasound). This procedure uses ultrasound to burn the prostate tissue in very small strips about 2mm x 2mm x 10 to 15mm. It is called Sonablate HIFU. Unfortunately it is in trials in the US but may not cost you anything if you can get into the trials but Canada has four locations, Winnipeg, Niagara, Toronto and I believe Montreal. The cost in Canada is $22,000. If you are interested here is the site for the Sonablate HIFU: http://www.hifucarecenter.com/ 

I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in July 2007 with a PSA of 4.39 and a Gleason score of 3+4=7 and a stage T1c.  I studied about the various methods.  I had recently moved to a city that I didn't know the urologist that found the cancer, so I went back to my former urologist a hundred miles away.  My wife and I talked to him about treatment.  He told us that he did a lot of surgeries in the past, but thought in my case brachytherapy would be a better option.  He very seldom does surgeries now.  I had the seed implants (Iodine 125) done on Nov. 29th as an outpatient. The procedure took about 45 minutes, a couple hours total time and went home right after.  I have had very little difficulties with the treatment.  I have some discomfort when urinating, other than that everything is going fine.  I will go back next month and have a PSA done to see what the results are.  As for the radiation, it is true that prolonged exposure to small children and pregnant women is not advised for the first couple months.  To play it safe I slept alone for the first 60 days.  After that it should be alright according to my doctor.