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Radiation treatment for prostate
cancer is determined based on the stage of disease. Whether
it is localized or has spread beyond the prostate gland to adjacent
tissue, radiation therapy can be delivered in one of two ways:
- External radiation therapy involves
targeting a beam of radiation at the tumor by a machine outside
the body. Treatments are given in brief daily sessions for eight
to nine weeks.
- Internal radiation therapy,
also called brachytherapy or implant therapy, involves surgically
placing radioactive sources directly into the affected area during
a one- to two-day procedure. It has increasingly become the treatment
of choice for prostate cancer.
Monmouth Medical Center’s Institute for Advanced Radiation
Oncology offers two forms of brachytherapy for prostate cancer.
The effectiveness of both techniques is reflected in a growing
record of successful results with minimal side effects.
- High-dose
rate (HDR) brachytherapy for the treatment of intermediate and
high risk prostate cancer.
- Low-dose rate (LDR/permanent seed) brachytherapy
for the treatment of favorable risk prostate cancer.
High-dose rate brachytherapy involves placing an intense radioactive
source directly into or around the tumor for a brief period of
time, allowing for higher doses of radiation to be delivered with
greater precision and in less time.
During the minimally invasive procedure, temporary catheters are
inserted into the prostate, serving as the conduits for the computer-aided
delivery of concentrated high-pulsed doses of radiation.
The radiation dose is conformed to the prostate shape and varies
in intensity, depending on the amount of time the radiation source
spends in each position in each needle. As a result, normal surrounding
tissue is spared and exposure to the urethra and rectum is minimized,
which may reduce potential side effects.
Treatment sessions usually last no longer than 20 minutes and are
delivered over a 36-hour period with only a one-night hospital
stay.
The temporary implants are removed before the patient leaves the
hospital. This treatment is then supplemented by a short course
of external radiation treatment using intensity
modulated radiation therapy.
Low-dose rate brachytherapy involves the “permanent” placement
of a low-level of radiation into the prostate to treat early stage
cancer.
Between 40 and 100 rice-sized titanium capsules — or “seeds” — containing
a radioactive substance are implanted in the prostate under sophisticated
computer guidance to ensure precise placement.
For several months, the seeds will deliver low-level radioactivity
without an excessive radiation dose to the normal surrounding tissue.
There is no need to remove the capsules because they are made of
a material that is compatible with the body’s tissue.
Treatment may be combined with external radiation therapy or hormonal
therapy.
Detailed information on disease-specific treatment is available
under the Patient Information and
Education section.
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Radiation Oncology
Monmouth Medical Center
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Disease Site Specific Treatment
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