What is brachytherapy and what are the major side effects and complications?
Academic Title: Assistant Professor
Board Certifications:
Radiation Oncology
Brachytherapy refers to the placement of radioactive sources in the prostate gland to treat prostate cancer. The most common prostate brachytherapy treatment is called a “prostate seed implant”, and involves the permanent implantation of radioactive “seeds” into the prostate gland using needles in an operating room.
The seeds decay over time and provide treatment for prostate cancer over several months. The other type of prostate brachytherapy, called “HDR” or “high dose rate” brachytherapy involves the temporary placement of a high-activity radiation source through catheters that are temporarily inserted into the prostate gland.
The major side effects of prostate brachytherapy include urinary symptoms, such as weak stream, urgency, frequency, pain during urination and waking up at night to urinate, as well as rectal irritation. There is also a risk of erectile dysfunction or urethral stricture and a small risk of bleeding from the rectum or bladder.