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What Experts Say about Brachytherapy and TheraSeed® Treatment
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Independent clinical studies verify the effectiveness of brachytherapy with the TheraSeed® device. Here’s what experts have concluded:

BRACHYTHERAPY LONG-TERM RESULTS
Brachytherapy with Pd-103 produces a biochemical control rate better than or equal to surgery; 12-year research proves superior efficacy for high- and intermediate-risk patients. (Sharkey, et. al., Brachytherapy, 2005)
Up to 12 years after treatment, brachytherapy produces long-term survival rates similar to radical prostatectomy and external beam radiation therapy. (Potters, et. al., Journal of Urology, 2005)
BRACHYTHERAPY EFFECTIVENESS
Brachytherapy can be an effective treatment for patients regardless of risk factor or age, and severe urinary or rectal complications are rare. (Merrick, et. al., The Journal of Urology, 2003)
Pd-103 treatment has a remarkably high cure rate for higher risk prostate cancer patients. (Dattoli, et. al., Cancer, 2003)
Nine years following TheraSeed® treatment, 83.5% of patients with a broad spectrum of Gleason scores were free of prostate cancer. (Blasko, et. al., International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology – Physics, 2000)
BRACHYTHERAPY COMPARISON TO OTHER TREATMENTS
Cure rates are similar for localized prostate cancer patients treated with permanent seed implants, surgery, high-dose external beam radiotherapy and combined permanent seed implants with external beam radiotherapy. (Kupelian, et. al., International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology – Physics. 2004)
Patients with the best profile for a good surgical outcome also are the best candidates for brachytherapy. (Peschel, et. al., The Lancet Oncology, 2003)
BRACHYTHERAPY COMPLICATIONS COMPARED TO SURGERY
Brachytherapy produces a cure rate as high as surgery, and has a lower rate of complications, such as incontinence and impotence. (Sharkey, et. al., Current Urology Reports, 2002)
PD-103 SEEDS COMPARED TO I-125 SEEDS
Patients treated with Pd-103 recover from radiation irritation sooner than I-125 patients. (Wallner, et. al., The Cancer Journal, 2002)
Patients receiving palladium-based seeds experience significantly fewer complications than those receiving iodine-based seeds. (Peschel, et. al., Radiation Oncology Investigations, 1999)
OF NOTE
Surgery frequently doesn’t remove all cancer cells. Forty-seven percent of men undergoing radical prostatectomy had cancer cells remaining in the body following surgery for localized prostate cancer. (Frank D. Gilliland, M.D., et. al., Journal of Urology, 1999)