Procedure

Brachytherapy entails the insertion of radioactive seeds into the prostate gland. The specific manner of placement creates a radiation “cloud” or dose around and within the prostate gland in order to irradiate cancerous cells. This is fast becoming the treatment of choice for prostate cancer.

The procedure is done by a multi-disciplinary team, namely a Urologist, Radiation Oncologist, Anaesthetist and Medical Physicist. The particular procedure done at our Brachytherapy unit is termed intraoperative, real-time interactive, brachytherapy. This involves the creation and execution of an individualised radiation plan in real time, in the theatre. Doses are adjusted as the implant takes place to ensure maximum efficacy while controlling the dose to sensitive structures, being the urethra and rectum. As a result of this new technology, the side-effects of the treatment can be kept to a minimum.

Radiation safety is a concern of many patients. Radioactive Iodine (I-125) is a low energy radioactive material that will lose its radiation quickly. The low energy of the seeds means that the radioactivity cannot travel far and is thus mostly contained within the prostate gland. A small amount of radiation will be given off to the rectum and bladder. A very small amount of radiation will escape from your body. Therefore you should take precautions to ensure that people within proximity are protected from radiation. Objects that one touches will not become radioactive. Very occasionally a seed can migrate from the prostate in the bladder – you will then pass this seed when you urinate. The lost seed will not affect anybody or the result of the treatment.