Men with prostate cancer may undergo radiation therapy to treat the condition. This therapy may include placing radiation seeds into the site near the tumor. The procedure, referred to as radiation brachytherapy, internal radiation therapy, radioactive seed placement and implant radiation therapy. The high dose of radiation works to transmit radiation to the tumor and kill cancerous cells while causing less damage to the surrounding tissue.
Types of Seeds
Two types radioactive seeds help treat prostate cancer, which include temporary and permanent options. The temporary seeds use tiny wires to place the radiation into the prostate and then the physician immediately removes the seed from the body. Temporary seeds require multiple procedures to treat the cancer. Permanent seeds use low dose radiation pellets in the prostate gland and release radiation over several months.
Recovery after Implantation
Most men have brachytherapy as an outpatient procedure, but complications may occur and require a short hospital stay. After discharge, a man may have a urinary catheter in place for a few days for bloody urine. Ice packs applied to the groin may help decrease pain and swelling associated with the procedure, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Men should avoid alcohol, swimming and soaking in a tub for a week following the procedure.
Risks
The placement of radioactive seeds carries risks related to the procedure. Risks associated with anesthesia include problems breathing and allergic reaction to the medications used. The risks to a man during the procedure include a risk of bleeding and of having an infection following the placement of the seeds. Mild tenderness or pain and sleepiness may occur after the procedure, according to MedlinePlus.
Side Effects
Side effects related to brachytherapy include problems with the urinary tract and the rectum, such as urethral strictures and bowel movement urgency. Men may also experience a reduction in sexual function, such as erectile dysfunction, as well as fatigue, according to MayoClinic.com. The side effects may decrease after several weeks of radiation.
Precautions
Men undergoing brachytherapy with the placement of permanent seeds need to take precautions when in contact with other people. The radiation released by the seeds is less than the annual limit set by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, according to MayoClinic.com, but some precautions may help prevent increase exposure during the first two months of therapy. Men with seed implants should avoid sexual intercourse for at least two weeks and then only with a condom in case a seed passes. A man should also limit contact with pregnant women and children. Permanent seeds may also set off the Homeland Security radiation detectors, according to The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library Home Edition.
