Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer
Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer
Commonly, prostate cancer affects older patients, whose general health conditions usually make aggressive surgical treatment risky.
Prostate Brachytherapy consists on the implantation of radioactive seeds in cancerous tumors confined to the prostate. This method has produced very favorable results in controlling this illness.
What is Brachytherapy?
This is a treatment option with internal radiation for localized prostate cancer.
The word Brachytherapy comes from the Greek prefixes “brachy” (short) and therapeia (therapy), and means short-term therapy.
This procedure consists of the implantation of small radioactive “seeds” inside the prostate gland that administer a high dose of concentrated radiation precisely in the area to be treated.
What does the treatment consist of?
The seed implantation is carried out in two sessions:
First session: A volume study of the prostate is carried out to plan the seed placement.
Second session: When the patient is anesthetized, the doctor inserts needles containing the radioactive seeds, which pass through the perineum and are inserted in the prostate gland.
The seed emits radiation for months. During this time, the gland finishes its treatment without risk to the patient or family members.
In order to carry out this procedure, the Centro Médico ABC has the most advanced medical personnel, technology and equipment.
The multidisciplinary medical group is composed of a group of experts that are highly trained in the different branches of medicine related to Brachytherapy:
- Urologists
- Clinical Oncologists
- Medical Physicists
Specialists are also available to offer support in the following areas:
- Anesthesiology
- Nursing
- Pathology
- Imaging
Advantages of Brachytherapy
Brachytherapy is a minimal invasion treatment that usually requires only one day of hospitalization..
It allows the patient to return home the next day and resume normal activities within a short time.
High radioactive doses may be received in the prostate with the least amount of damage to neighboring organs. It has been proven that in the long term, it offers similar results to those obtained with other treatments, but with fewer side effects.
