Brachytherapy for prostate cancer is a permanent form of internal radiation therapy used to kill cancerous cells in the prostate gland. During this type of surgical cancer treatment, a surgeon implants radioactive seeds into the prostate gland. Men should discuss the potential side effects of brachytherapy for prostate cancer with a doctor prior to undergoing this procedure.
Bleeding, Bruising or Tenderness
Surgical implantation of the radioactive seeds can cause men to experience sensations of tenderness within the groin region, Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia reports. Minor bleeding of the scrotum or bruising along the upper, inner thigh can also occur as a side effect of brachytherapy. These symptoms can be uncomfortable, but typically subside within a few days or weeks of treatment.
Hematuria
For the first few days or weeks after treatment, men can notice small amounts of blood in their urine--a side effect called hematuria, Johns Hopkins Medicine explains. Certain men may also observe blood in their semen following ejaculation. These side effects are normal and will progressively subside as the prostate gland heals from surgery.
Urination Problems
Approximately one in every seven men experience difficulty urinating after undergoing brachytherapy, according to Macmillan Cancer Support. Additional urination problems that can occur include frequent or painful urination. Certain men can notice that their urine stream appears weaker than usual following brachytherapy. Depending upon the severity of urination problems, a doctor may recommend the temporary use of a catheter to help drain urine from the bladder. If urination problems persist, a man may be prescribed specific medications to help alleviate urinary complications.
Diarrhea
Frequent, loose bowel movements, or diarrhea, are a potential side effect of brachytherapy for prostate cancer. Men can develop bowel movement changes within the first two weeks following therapy, the Fox Chase Cancer Center warns. Typically, diarrhea side effects resolve within two months of onset without further medical intervention. Men who are bothered by diarrhea symptoms should speak with a doctor.
Impotence or Infertility
Men who have brachytherapy for prostate cancer can experience impotence as a side effects of treatment. Affected men have difficulty achieving or sustaining an erection during sexual stimulation. Five years after radioactive seed implantation, approximately one-third of men still experience impotence side effects, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center explains. Certain men may also become infertile due to this type of radiation therapy. Infertile men can no longer have biological children because they are unable to get a woman pregnant. Men should discuss these sexual side effects of brachytherapy for prostate cancer with a doctor and their intimate partner before undergoing treatment.
