Brachytherapy | Prostate Cancer

How is  Brachytherapy used  for Prostate cancer?

• In prostate cancer, Brachytherapy is given using Radioactive 'seed implants'
• 'Seed implants' are  small metallic seeds of the size of rice grains
• These seeds are placed in the tumor using general anesthesia or spinal (epidural) anesthesia
• These seed implants give small doses of Radioactivity
• This is usually done on an out patient basis 
• This effect spreads a few millimeters around the seeds
• It's effect fades away in a years time

seed implants

How is Brachytherapy for Prostate cancer  given ?

Brachytherapy | Side effects

What are the side effects of Brachytherapy?

Acute side effects:

• At the site - bleeding, bruising, swelling, discharge, discomfort are common.
• They last for a few days and resolve.
• Fatigue is experienced like in all other RT techniques.
• In case of skin cancer, desquamation (scaling) and ulceration maybe seen.
• In case of prostate or cervical cancer, bowel and bladder complications are seen.
• for example, urinary retention, incontinence (loss of control over bladder), dysuria (painful urination),etc.
• Diarrhoea, increased frequency of bowel movements, constipation, minor rectal bleeding can be experienced.
• Can be managed medically.

Dry desquamation of skin

Brachytherapy | Characteristics and Types

What are the characteristics of Brachytherapy?

• Can be used in combination with external beam radiotherapy and chemotherapy
• Extremely localized effect. The irradiation does not affect  the healthy tissues further away from the source.
• The radiation sources are placed in a protective capsule or a wire, which does not let the source move around, or get dissolved in the body fluids.
• This capsule can be removed later, or allowed to stay permanently.
• It retains its position even if the tumor moves or the patient changes the position.
• It is completed in lesser time than other RT techniques.
• Hence, it reduces the survival of cancer cells.
• This can be given on Out-patient basis, which is convenient for the patients.
• Has shown good patient compliance.

Brachytherapy seed implant (with Iodine-125)
image courtesy-isoaid.com