Brachytherapy

Brachytherapy is a form of treatment for prostate cancer, where radioactive seeds of iodine 125 (I125) are placed permanently in the prostate gland. The term "Brachytherapy" was chosen because in ancient Greek "brachy" means "short", which indicates that the radioactivity is administered directly to the cancerous tissue. This is in contrast with traditional external beam radiation, where the radioactivity unavoidably passes through healthy tissue before reaching the prostate. Brachytherapy delivers higher and more localized radiation to the prostate, while minimizing the effect on the neighbouring organs such as the bladder and rectum.

The radioactive seeds are small "cartridges" of titanium (4.5mm long by 0.8mm diameter) containing the radioactive isotope iodine-125. The half-life (time required for the radioactivity to reduce by half) is about 60 days, which means that most of the radioactivity is released into the prostate during the first three months. The granules remain biologically active for a total of approximately 9 months. After this, they become virtually inactive.

Long-term results from U.S. patients who underwent Brachytherapy over 15 years ago, show that it is a very effective form of treatment for patients with localized prostate cancer.

Brachytherapy compared with other treatments (radical prostatectomy, external radiation) seems equally effective, but has fewer side effects and complications.

However Brachytherapy is not of course the only effective form of treatment for prostate cancer and some patients may have evidence for another form of therapy.

The patient's choice

Which patients are suitable for Brachytherapy?

Initial Consultation

What to expect from your suitability assessment for Brachytherapy by Stelios Voulgaris

Treatment

Details on the procedure of Brachytherapy surgery