Brachytherapy is a therapeutic method used in curative dedicated localized prostate cancer. Worldwide, practiced frequently by urologists: for over 20 years in the U.S. and approximately 10 years in developed countries in Europe.
Medical Treatment
The term “brachytherapy (brachy) comes from Greek and is to place radioactive sources very close to or in contact with tissue, and which produced energy to destroy tissue. In brachytherapy for prostate cancer therapy may be the only way or can be used in combination with external irradiation, depending on each patient’s clinical situation.
What is brachytherapy ?
American Brachytherapy Society recommends this procedure for prostate cancer in early stages with a PSA (prostate specific antigen) of less than 10 ng / ml. In combination with external radiotherapy as method, brachytherapy can be used in more advanced stage, when the PSA value is less than 20 ng / ml. In the therapy of localized prostate cancer with brachytherapy using radioactive isotopes: Paladium Iodine 125 and 103. Low dose brachytherapy is a procedure that involves implanting these “seeds” of radioactive size of a grain of rice into the tumors of the prostate gland. Radioactive isotopes – iodine and palladium – are locked in a small shell of titanium. When radiation is released from the “seeds”, the tumor shrinks and is destroyed.
Like any radioactive source, iodine 125 progressively loses its activity. Shelf-life is about 2 months. In other words, the power source decreases by half every two months, so that one year after the implant, 98.5% of the energy source is already released in the target tissue. After the loss of radioactivity seeds remain in the prostate and produce no discomfort.
Brachytherapy is a method even more effective if they release the full dose of radiation toward the tumor and surrounding tissues are much less irradiated. Unlike external radiation, almost double doses, thus increasing anti tumor efficacy. The procedure takes a few minutes and is performed 2-4 sessions at an interval of at least 6 hours. Affected person is discharged after 1-2 days to implant and go home on his own.
The procedure is carried out under general anesthesia, that is sufficiently deep sleep that the patient does not move at all during the seed implantation procedure is done.
Advantages and possible adverse effects
As adverse effects related to brachytherapy are possible:
- Inability to evacuate urine within 24 hours;
- Sore / pain when urinating in the first months after implant;
- Need to urinate more often, even at night;
- False sensation of stool.
All these symptoms are controllable with medication and disappear completely after several months of treatment.
