The Advantages of Prostate Seed Implants

Posted by CancerInformation on July 16th, 2014

A diagnosis of prostate cancer is something an estimated one in six men will hear during the course of their lifetime. Fortunately, there are new treatments available that take some of the fears out of the diagnosis. Prostate seed implants are just one of the breakthroughs that can make facing this diagnosis less frightening than it once was.

What are Prostate Seed Implants? 

Prostate seed implants are a form of treatment that involves the surgical implantation of tiny radioactive seeds near the prostate. These seeds kill cancer cells with very little disruption to the body’s other functions. They may be used on their own or in conjunction with other forms of therapy, such as beam radiation.

Why Consider Them?

There are a number of advantages that prostate seed implants have over other forms of therapy, especially invasive surgery. They include:

• Ease – This form of therapy only takes about an hour and the patient is able to go home. A return to normal routine generally is feasible within a day or two.
• Fewer complications – This relatively painless form of treatment presents with very few complications. In fact, prostate seed implants have very low rates of erectile dysfunction associated with them. This is a very big concern among men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer.

There are a few possible disadvantages when prostate seed implants are considered. They include:

• Problems urinating – It’s not at all uncommon for men to have some problems urinating after implantation. The symptoms may include frequent need or urgency. It’s also possible that men will be temporarily unable to urinate. This tends to go away rather quickly.
• Potential for dysfunction – While it isn’t a common occurrence, some 20 to 30 percent of men who have seed implants do experience some form of erectile dysfunction. This is treatable in many cases with the use of medications like Viagra.

Prostate seed implants provide a less invasive alternative for treatment. Men who face this diagnosis may want to consult their doctor for advice on whether or not the treatment would benefit them.

About the Author:-

Dr. Echt and his team at the Prostate Seed Institute offer the most highly sophisticated methods of radiation therapy available in the United States, equal to that found in major medical centers and academic settings. These include prostate seed implantation, high dose radiation implants, and external beam radiation with image-guided and intensity-modulated (IGRT and IMRT) capabilities.