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Prostate brachytherapy is the instillation of radioactive “seeds” into your prostate gland. These “seeds” are approximately the size of a grain of rice and totally encased in titanium. Typically, your physicians will place between 70 and 150 seeds into your prostate gland. The exact number will be determined by the actual size of the prostate. Even though most of the cancer is only visible in a portion of your prostate, there may be tiny amounts of cancer throughout the gland. For this reason, the entire gland is treated.

The radioactive isotopes used in prostate brachytherapy are either Iodine 125 or Palladium 103. Both isotopes give up about 90% of their radioactivity within a short time, six months and two months respectively. By one year, the radioactivity can be considered gone. Before your release from the hospital, you will be instructed on precautions to take following your brachytherapy treatment.

How Long Will My Procedure Take?

Sometime between two and four weeks before your scheduled brachytherapy, you will have a prostate volume study. This is done on an outpatient basis with no anesthesia required. This results from this volume study will determine both the number of seeds needed to treat the cancer and where the seeds will be placed. Along with your Radiation Oncologist, a physicist will be assisting with the “plan” developed from the volume study.

The actual brachytherapy treatment will be scheduled in advance. Your physician and possibly representatives from the hospital will provide you with the appropriate instructions such as time to arrive, etc. The actual implant procedure takes anywhere from 45 minutes to 90 minutes depending on the number of seeds being placed. You will be asleep during this procedure.

After the implant is done, you will be moved to the recovery room for a short while prior to being discharged. While in the Recovery Room, an ice pack may be placed between your legs to help reduce swelling of the implant area. You also might have a catheter in place.

How Much Recovery Time Will I Need?

There is surprisingly little discomfort after the implant. Prior to your discharge from hospital after your implant, you will be given a complete list of instructions to follow. You might experience some mild soreness between the legs for several days. You physician can provide a pain medication for you. You will be able to freely walk around and begin eating your normal diet.

You must schedule an appointment with your Urologist and Radiation Oncologist. Follow-up is a very important step in the treatment. Your Radiation Oncologist will also schedule a CT scan (x-ray) for you. This scan will assist your physicians in determining the success of your treatment and if any further treatment is needed.