Brachytherapy
Around 10,000 men in the UK die each
year from prostate cancer. There are many choices for treatment of
the disease, one of which is brachytherapy.
Low dose brachytherapy involves
radioactive pellets being implanted into the prostate gland to
target and kill the cancer. The seeds remain in the prostate,
where the radioactive material gives off localised radiation to
destroy the prostate cancer. Over 99% of men in a study
retained their continence and the majority retained their
potency. Among those who have surgery to remove the gland
instances of these negative side effects were significantly
higher.
Brachytherapy provides a higher, more localised radiation close
to the prostate and minimises the effects on the surrounding
tissues, such as the rectum and bladder. It appears to be as
effective as other conventional treatments, such as surgery or
external beam radiotherapy, but with a lower side-effect
profile.
Prostate brachytherapy has been proven to
offer greater than 90% disease-free survival rate and to have
significantly less side effects (such as impotence and
incontinence) than radical surgery or conventional radiotherapy
treatment for prostate cancer.
Patients ideally suited for brachytherapy are those for whom
there is a good chance that their cancer is confined to the
prostate and has not spread outside of the gland. The seed
implantation requires no surgical incision and offers men a short
recovery time.
Brachytherapy at The London Clinic is an outpatient procedure,
with most men returning home the same day as their treatment, and
returning to their normal activities a few days after
treatment.
Brachytherapy is an important addition to The London Clinic’s
existing specialist service offering to treat prostate cancer,
which includes robotic surgery.
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