LDR Prostate Seed Implantation
Prostate Brachytherapy or LDR (low-dose rate) Radioactive Seed Implantation consists of a surgically placing permanent radioactive sources or seeds inside the patients prostate. One seed is about the size of a grain of rice. There are two radioactive sources commonly used - Iodine (I-125) or Palladium (Pd-103) to deliver the radiation. Both emit very low energy radiation, which is primarily absorbed in the treatment area or "target" tissue immediately surrounding the seed.
Anywhere from 40 to 130 seeds may be implanted throughout the entire prostate. The calculated volume of the prostate determines the exact number. The seeds remain permanently in place. However, they gradually lose their radioactivity over a period of time - Iodine seeds over a period of about six months and Palladium seeds over a period of about three months.
The appropriate treatment for prostate cancer depends upon whether:
- it is localized to the gland
- it is locally advanced
- it is spread beyond the gland
Other features of the cancer such as the appearance under the microscope (e.g., grade and Gleason score), prostate specific antigen (PSA) level and the physical examination, can play a role and help to predict the likelihood that the cancer is indeed confined to the gland.
Organ-confined prostate cancer can be effectively treated with surgery, 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy or prostate brachytherapy (radioactive seed implant). These are general guidelines and each treatment is individualized to each patient. These discussions are very important. Your urologist will discuss options with you regarding therapies and if he/she believes that radiation therapy or prostate seed implantation is an appropriate treatment recommendation, you will be referred to a radiation oncology center. The SOMC Cancer Center offers both LDR prostate seed implantation and external beam radiation with intensity modulated fields.
Many patients are concerned with radioactivity when considering prostate seed implantation. Potential exposures to loved ones are well within levels considered safe for the general population. However, radiation protection practice commonly employs a philosophy of taking reasonable steps to reduce already low potential risks even further, whenever practical. This concept is always adopted when considering exposure to small children and pregnant women. Similarly, if the measures are simple to take and do not unduly interfere with a person's lifestyle and quality of life, a patient may wish to employ steps such as maintaining some additional average distance from those around him, if this is not too burdensome.
Who do you call if you have questions?
Call the SOMC Cancer Center at (740) 356-7490 or toll free 1-888-722-8787, or e-mail us if you have questions.
