Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer

Brachytherapy refers to the permanent or temporary implantation of radioactive materials in the form of seeds or wires in the prostate gland to kill cancer cells. It does not involve surgery. Immediate aftereffects tend to be limited to soreness and bruising in the perineal area and the hindrance of wearing a temporary catheter.

Temporary Brachytherapy

• Called HDR (high dose rate) brachytherapy, this procedure involves several very short time temporary insertions and withdrawals of wire implants with radioactive iridium-192 isotopes.

Seed Implants

• With this form of brachytherapy (SI), tiny radioactive seeds of iodine-125 or palladium-103 isotopes are inserted into the prostate gland to destroy cancer cells.

Radioactive Material Life

• Iodine-125 has a half-life of 2 months and palladium-103 a half-life of 2 weeks. Iridium-192 has a half-life of 74 days.

Seed Implant Treatment Period

• Brachytherapy seed implants ordinarily take place in an outpatient setting under anesthesia. The process usually takes 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Temporary HDR Treatment

• This method involves an overnight stay in the hospital, since in most cases the radioactive wires go in for just several seconds. This process repeats once or twice over the course of about 40 hours.