Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer

As part of a special course on brachytherapy for prostate cancer from the American Brachytherapy Society and Grand Rounds in Urology, Mira Keyes, MD, FRCPC, FABS, Clinical Professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and a radiation oncologist at the Vancouver Centre of the British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA), gives an overview of brachytherapy for prostate cancer (PCa), making a case against its declining use based on its efficacy. Check out the full free course here: abslearning.learnupon.com/store

[@Brammy007a]

I came within 18 hours of chemical castration (which they euphemistically like to call "hormone therapy"). Neither my urologist nor my radiation oncologist ever suggested that brachytherapy might be an option. Via lots of research, I cancelled the hormone shot and now have an appointment to look at whether I'm a good candidate for brachytherapy. For those out there who have been told they need external beam with hormone suppression, I urge you to investigate the long term effects of chemical castration..... from what I can tell, you will never be the same. Logically, brachytherapy (either low dose permanent seeds which deliver a higher dose in the long run, or high dose which is a quick but very strong exposure) makes a lot of sense as it delivers radiation most directly to the location of the cancer. There are side effects to brachytherapy, of course. These include urinary problems (relatively short term) and also that as with any prostate radiation, surgery after radiation is possibly not possible. Please do your own research and do NOT just accept what the first doc says. A doctor is very likely to recommend the thing that they are specialized in, be it surgery, external beam radiation with castration, or brachytherapy. This is not like being treated for a broken leg where the solution is a no-brainer.... YOU MUST DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH.