Founder of the renowned Prostate Seed Institute talks about this treatment option.

Irving, TX, – While clinical trials and patient outcomes have long pointed to the benefits of high-dose brachytherapy for treating certain cases of prostate cancer, a recent study gave men a voice on the topic. The majority of men enrolled in the study meant to further gauge the effectiveness of this treatment reported very strong satisfaction ratings after undergoing the treatment.

“The researchers found that 80 percent of the patients surveyed following high-dose brachytherapy were ‘extremely satisfied’ with their treatments,” says Dr. Gregory Echt, founder and lead surgeon at the Prostate Seed Institute. “Nearly all of the rest reported being ‘very satisfied.’ Both responses speak volumes considering the delicate nature of prostate cancer treatment and the potential side effect risks interventions tend to pose.”

High-dose brachytherapy is a targeted alternative to standard external beam radiation treatments. Although meant to eradicate cancer cells through irradiation, much like external beam, this procedure involves the implantation of radioactive pellets directly into a tumor. Whereas patients who undergo standard dose brachytherapy will have radioactive seeds left in place due to their low radiation doses, higher dose therapy is more involved. This procedure is performed in a hospital and requires the implantation of seeds for a set period of time before they must be removed. The procedure is generally repeated to ensure that radiation has adequately targeted cancer cells.

Brachytherapy – both low and high dose – is designed to enable the pellets to target the cancer cells more directly while sparing nearby healthy tissue. External beam radiation has also become highly targeted, but that option does call for beams to pass through the body to reach cancer cells. Brachytherapy is associated with common prostate cancer treatment side effects, such as impotence and incontinence. The risks, however, tend to be lower and the duration of such complaints may be more limited than patients may experience after undergoing other treatment options.

“Brachytherapy offers men a proven, effective alternative to other treatment options,” says Dr. Echt. “As the study, it has high patient satisfaction rates thanks to reduced side effect risks and positive outcomes.”

Men diagnosed with prostate cancer are urged to discuss all treatment options with their doctors. The best course of action in a man’s particular case will depend on patient and tumor specifics.

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. To see the Procedure Comparison Chart and learn more about the Prostate Seed InstituteCLICK HERE.