The founder of the renowned Prostate Seed Institute talks about brachytherapy benefits.

Irving, TX, – Brachytherapy has long been a popular and highly effective treatment for lower risk prostate cancer cases. A new study is now shedding light on the potential this less intensive intervention has for treating unfavorable risk tumors.

The study in question involved a retrospective analysis of patient cases from a national database. The intent was to compare outcome results for patients with unfavorable risk cancers who were also treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Men included in the study group were either given brachytherapy or traditional external beam radiation (EBR) as a boost for ADT. Researchers ultimately found the brachytherapy and ADT combination resulted in a 40 percent higher relative benefit in 5-year survival versus EBR and ADT.

“Brachytherapy and external beam radiation are similar in their intent to eradicate cancerous cells by irradiating them,” explains Dr. Gregory Echt, founder and lead surgeon at the Prostate Seed Institute. “Brachytherapy, however, is much more targeted and tends to present with lower side effect risks.”

Also called seed implants, brachytherapy calls for the insertion of tiny radioactive pellets directly into the cancerous prostate itself. These low-dose seeds deliver radiation directly to cancerous cells while having the ability to more readily spare nearby, healthy tissue.

“Men with lower-risks forms of prostate cancer tend to prefer brachytherapy because of its lower risk for side effects and its fast recovery time,” says Dr. Echt. “The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis and most men are able to return to their normal routines almost immediately. As the recent study shows, this alternative to traditional radiation may also help improve survival rates in unfavorable risk cases.”

It is estimated that more than 161,000 American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in the coming year. Since all men are at risk for this condition as they age, it is strongly recommended that routine screening begin in middle age. A man’s personal healthcare provider can help men gauge their risks and will likely make recommendations on when routine screening should begin.

About The Prostate Seed Institute
The Prostate Seed Institute is one of the country’s leading pioneers in prostate cancer treatment including prostate seed implementation, a fast and painless procedure that effectively treats prostate cancer in its earliest stages. With a team of oncology experts and a state-of-the-art facility, the Prostate Seed Institute provides prostate cancer patients with the most comprehensive treatment available.