Healthy living
Body matters
Radioactive seed implants cure almost all prostate cancers
More than 90 percent of men who are treated with radiation-emitting seed implants to treat their prostate cancer are cured eight years after diagnosis
This is according to the results of a large study in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics.
In the study, doctors from the US followed nearly 2,700 men who were treated with brachytherapy (the use of seed implants) for more than five years. Most men (70%) received a high dose of radiation while the others received a slightly lower dose.
The researchers found that eight years after being diagnosed, 93% of men treated with the high dose seeds were free of prostate cancer. Among those treated with the lower dose, 76% were cured.
Dr Michael Zelefsky, lead author of the study and Chief of Brachytherapy Services at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York said: "This study is exciting because it shows that brachytherapy alone without additional surgery, radiation or drugs can be effective at curing early-stage prostate cancer."
The prostate gland, a chestnut-sized organ only found in men, lies just beneath the bladder. Prostate cancer develops from cells in the prostate gland and is one of the most common cancers - in the UK alone, around 30,000 cases are diagnosed each year, with most developing in men over 65.
In many cases the cancer is slow growing, does not reduce life expectancy, and may not need treatment. However, in others it is more 'aggressive' and, if the cancer has not spread outside the prostate gland, brachytherapy can be used to treat it.
The seeds, which are about the size of a grain of rice, are implanted into the prostate from where they deliver a dose of radiation to the prostate over a period of months. The advantage of brachytherapy is that the radiation does not affect the nearby tissues and organs. In addition, there is usually no need for any further treatment as the seeds are left in place long-term.
There are other types of treatment for the condition such as active monitoring, external beam radiotherapy, and surgery. However, seed implants are being used more and more to treat early-stage prostate cancer and there are now 20 centres in the UK offering brachytherapy treatment, which is available both on the NHS and privately.
Symptoms of prostate cancer
There may be no symptoms at first, and some symptoms that do occur could be a sign of prostate problems other than cancer but should be checked out by a GP. Possible symptoms include:
- Weaker urine flow
- Frequent need to urinate
- Difficulty starting to urinate
- Taking a long time to finish
- A need to rush to the toilet
- A feeling that your bladder has not emptied properly
- Pain in the genitals
- Lower back pain
- Difficulty in getting or keeping an erection
- Pain in the hips or pelvis
- Blood in the urine
Reader comments
Just over 3 years ago, I thought my world had fallen apart. Having the usual symptoms of urinating quite a lot during the night, a PSA tesr gave a figure of 640 !! The treatment I've had for my cancer and am still having (Casodex and Zoladex) has brought my PSA down to 0.2 !! I'm feeling quite healthy at 82 yrs, can I rely on the PSA to give a true indication of the condition of my cancer? I presume that, with the high PSA that I started with in 2004, I'm not a suitable patient for the bachytherapy treatmant?
Posted by: Jack Holland | 25/07/2007 11:29:39
Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.