The Myths and Facts About Prostate Brachytherapy

[@toddmorrison7342]

Thank you for providing this video, as it helped to solidify my decision to have brachytherapy verses surgery. I spent three months researching everything I could regarding prostate cancer and respective treatments before concluding that brachytherapy followed by five weeks of IMRT (no ADT), was my best choice. For patients that might read this, my Gleason score is 4+3, decipher .96, PSMA PET came back clear, and my MRI failed to reveal the cancer.

[@jimbruno]

Excellent resource and wonderfully delivered! Thank you for sharing this, Dr Frank!

[@donwilson7312]

I would NEVER AGAIN choose this treatment. After a few years I went into acute urinary retention and many times ended up in emergency with a catheter. Finally I passed a seed that had become stuck in my urinary tract. But because it had been stuck for some time, it had caused a scar tissue in the urinary tract which cause a stricture. I went to numerous urologists and no one could help me. My niece found a doctor in Arizona who removed 1" of my urinary tract and attached it back to the prostate. The surgery was called an urethroplasty. I went along for awhile okay and then it happened again. I went back to the doctor in Arizona and he used a laser to break up the seed so it would pass. It happened again last week and I wasn't sure, but thought it was a seed. I had an emergency catheter installed. Today, a miracle happened after they removed the catheter, my first elimination was difficult. but all of a sudden something very large came out. It was the seed and had calcified and was large. Unfortunately, I expect these types of events to continue for the rest of my life. I would NEVER recommend this treatment to anyone with prostate cancer.

[@schmingusss]

Maybe high dose brachytherapy where the seed implants are removed.

[@sandraredmond4812]

Which is more effective - LDR or HDR?

[@Benb55]

You didn’t mention possible long term bowel problems as a result of Brachytherapy. Have those outcomes improved markedly over the years? I’m about to make the decision of what treatment to choose for my Gleason 7 4+3 prostate cancer. Your reply would be greatly appreciated. Cheers Ben, Sydney Australia

[@raysanguinetti7208]

Ben, hope this finds you well; was wondering what you learned and your option of choice. Ray

[@Benb55]

@@raysanguinetti7208 I’m good Ray. The eye opener for me, was when I spoke to my Radiation Oncologist and he told me the success rate for radiation and surgery were the same, at 95%. I couldn’t see the point of having surgery and going through all that goes with it. I had a PSMA pet scan which showed the cancer hadn’t spread outside the prostate. So for me, going with radiation seemed the best option.

[@retiredjetjock657]

@@Benb55 Agreed! I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008. My PSA at biopsy was 04.0, the top of normal. The extensive testing at CTCA in Tulsa revealed my cancer was still contained within the prostate capsule and in a singular quadrant. My lead Oncologist advised he could give me a 97% chance of complete riddance of my cancer if I submitted to brachytherapy. I've had no bounce over the years and my semiannual PSA over the intervening years has always been 0.3.

[@Benb55]

@@retiredjetjock657 Great to hear your PSA is in the perfect range. That’s we all want. The 12 month PSA check, after radiation, showed my PSA was 0.46.

[@Jack-2day]

@@retiredjetjock657 glad it worked out for u. May I ask if u had any short term or long term side effects? Cheers

[@pmoyer97]

This report was relating to LDR Brachytherapy. Can you also do a report on HDR Brachytherapy.

[@GereDJ2]

Surgical removal notwithstanding, so, are you saying Brachytherapy is proven or shown to be more effective long-term, than HIFU, TULSA or Radiation etc? Side effects scores?

[@tomslick2058]

Problem is finding a good doctor. There's no money in it. What's the rate urethra scaring. Any problems with rectal problems.

[@retiredjetjock657]

Try Cancer Treatment Center of America.

[@Wunderpus-photogenicus]

If I have both prostate and bladder cancer, should I not do brachytherapy on my prostate?

[@VimMitt]

Do u recommend brachytherapy short term or permanant?

[@helios1912]

What a doctor visit should be like. thanks for the stats

[@schmingusss]

5 and 10 year outcomes for patients with intermediate prostate cancer with NO treatment are almost the same.

[@robertmonroe3678]

Brachytherapy (HDR) combined with another form of radiation (including SBRT) is a relatively (and curative) common treatment for prostate cancer nowadays at Memorial Sloan Kettering.

[@szkola-inwestowania-walen]

So it's all wonderful. Try water only fasting before you go ahead with something more risky.