HOME PATIENT INFORMATION WHAT IS BRACHYTHERAPY Is LDR brachytherapy right for me?
Is LDR Brachytherapy right for me?
Talking further with your oncologist (cancer expert), urologist (expert on the urinary system) or specialist nurse will help you make a decision about which treatment is right for you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about anything you don’t understand, and don’t be afraid to ask them to repeat what you are being told. Taking someone with you can help and some people find that taking notes is also useful.
Considerations
When thinking about having LDR brachytherapy (seed implantation), the following considerations are important.
- You should be in reasonably good health.
- LDR brachytherapy may not be suitable for you if you have had previous urinary surgery
- You should have few urinary symptoms related to your cancer
- You should be able to flex your hips to 90 degrees
- You should not have received previous pelvic radiotherapy (EBRT)
Click on the following Tables for further information. Table 1 will help you to discuss with your partner and your healthcare team if you are suitable for LDR brachytherapy.
Table 1: Treatment selector chart
Reproduced with permission from The Prostate Cancer Centre, Guildford
Please click on the thumbnail to enlarge the table.
If you are told that you are suitable for LDR brachytherapy you may then want to compare it with other treatments suitable for you.
Table 2: Chart comparing side effects associated with different treatments
Reproduced with permission from The Prostate Cancer Centre, Guildford
Please click on the thumbnail to enlarge the table.
Brachytherapy
With brachytherapy, small radioactive seeds are implanted into the prostate where they irradiate prostate tissue.Side effects and discomfort are minimal, and the entire procedure usually takes less than an hour.
For most patients this is an outpatient procedure and they go home the same day, returning to normal activities a few days later.