Prostate Seed Implantation
There are few moments more traumatic in a  man's life than when he hears his physician say, "You have prostate cancer."
Fortunately, great strides have been made in the treatment of this malignancy. The regular testing of PSA levels for men age 50+ has improved the likelihood of an early diagnosis, and therefore successful treatment. Heightened awareness of the subtle symptoms, such as blood in urine, difficulty urinating, weight loss, bone pain and anemia, has encouraged men to seek earlier care.

Today, there are more options available than ever before. Advances in the use of radiation, 3D imaging and prostate seed brachytherapy have increased the chances of survival and cure.

Prostate seed brachytherapy involves the implantation of radioactive seeds, which are about the size of rice grains, directly into the prostate gland. Infused with either iodine-125 or palladium-103, theses seeds will irradiate the tumor from within the gland.

The implantation is performed on an outpatient basis. The patient is admitted a couple hours prior to the procedure, which will last about 2 hours.

The patient is given anesthesia before implantation begins. Thin, hollow needles are inserted into the perineum area, which lies between the scrotum and anus. The seeds are "dropped into place through these needles," and the placement is monitored using ultrasound.

Following the procedure, a patient may experience some temporary urinary discomfort, and slight bleeding or blood in the urine. Also, there may be some bruising or swelling between the legs. This will subside after a few days.

Most men are able to return to work or resume their regular activities within a few days following the implantation.

Survivability studies have demonstrated that prostate seed implants are as effective as surgery and external beam radiation.