Prostate Seed Implants
Prostate seed implants can be a particularly suitable radiotherapy
option for patients diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer. The
treatment is also referred to as brachytherapy,
or internal radiation therapy.
How prostate seed implants work
About 100 radioactive seeds (Iodine-125) are injected into the
prostate under anesthesia where they emit low levels of radiation for
a few months. The procedure is usually performed on a one-time,
outpatient basis and takes about two hours. The seeds are distributed
into the prostate using tiny implant needles that your doctor guides
using an ultrasound instrument.
Physician experience is an important parameter in the ultimate
success of prostate seed implants, and doctors at the Stanford Cancer
Center have significant experience with this procedure. Although the
seeds eventually stop delivering radiation, they remain in the body permanently.
Benefits of prostate seed implants
Fewer side effects
Each individual seed emits a very low level of radiation that can
only penetrate a few millimeters of tissue. Therefore, surrounding
structures that can be damaged by radiation (such as the bladder,
urethra and rectum) are out of the seeds' emission range.
This means that you are less likely to experience side effects in
these areas than with traditional radiation therapy.
Convenience
The one-time procedure with a few follow-up visits is more
convenient for patients than traditional radiotherapy which can
require daily hospital visits for many weeks.
Precautions for patients with prostate seed implants
During the period when the seeds are emitting radiation, you should
limit the amount of time children or pregnant women spend sitting on
your lap to keep their radiation exposure to safe levels.