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Select the question below or use the scroll bar to read all questions and
answers in this section:
Why is TheraSeed® treatment the best choice for brachytherapy?
Brachytherapy treatment involves implanting tiny, radioactive seeds into the
prostate gland to fight cancer. Two different types of seeds are used. One has
a palladium base; the other has an iodine base. Originally, physicians used
seeds composed of iodine-125 (I-125). While these older devices are still in
use today, science evolved, resulting in the development of palladium-103
(Pd-103) seeds. The palladium composition of TheraSeed® treatment
offers distinct advantages over iodine-based seeds:
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Clinical data demonstrate the palladium base used in TheraSeed® treatment
acts faster and results in significantly fewer long-term complications than
iodine-based seeds.4 |
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TheraSeed® treatment delivers an initial dose rate two to three
times stronger than iodine-125, potentially resulting in better control of
rapidly dividing cells.12 |
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Patients treated with Pd-103 recovered from radiation-related prostatitis
(infection or inflammation of the prostate gland) sooner than
I-125 patients.12 |
If TheraSeed® treatment is effective, why do some patients still have
surgery?
Patients who are candidates for brachytherapy sometimes don’t hear much about
this proven treatment because the physicians who diagnose their cancer are
often trained as surgeons and, therefore, may be predisposed to perform
surgery. In other cases, the physicians may have been educated before
brachytherapy technology evolved or may not be familiar with the results of
recent long-term studies regarding the effectiveness of this treatment.
Long-term research, following patients up to 12 years after treatment, indicates brachytherapy with the TheraSeed® device produces results better than or equal to surgery,1 yet it works with a lower risk of incontinence and impotence.2,3 In addition, brachytherapy can be an effective treatment for patients regardless of risk factor or age.13
Why do some patients receive external beam radiation in addition to
brachytherapy?
Some physicians combine brachytherapy with external beam radiation therapy
(EBRT) to escalate the overall radiation dose to the prostate gland. This
technique is sometimes employed if patients have a higher risk of developing
disease outside the gland. However, recent studies indicate that with proper
treatment planning and seed placement, “supplemental external beam radiation
therapy may not improve the outcome in low, intermediate or high risk cases.”13
Why do some patients receive hormone therapy in addition to seeding?
Hormone therapy does not cure prostate cancer, yet it can slow its growth by
starving cancer cells of testosterone. It also can make cancer cells more
susceptible to radiation treatment. Some doctors believe hormone therapy can
shrink a prostate tumor, providing better overall treatment when combined with
seed implants.
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