Bayshore Community Hospital offers radioactive seed implantation therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer. This procedure involves a one-time insertion of tiny low-level radioactive seeds into the prostate under ultrasound guidance.

During the radioactive seed implantation, between 50 to 100 rice-size seeds are injected through the skin into the prostate. The procedure only takes 45 minutes. Over the next several months, the seeds release enough radiation to destroy the cancer without damaging other tissues. The end result is an effective treatment with little or no side effects. The seeds become motionless once the radiation has been released.

The procedure is another viable option for patients with early stage prostate cancer. Traditionally, treatment has meant surgery, chemotherapy or external beam radiation.

For the appropriate patient, radioactive seed implants may avoid the problems of some of the other treatments, yet the procedure equals their success rates.

Aside from being up to 50 percent less expensive than surgery, this procedure offers important quality-of-life advantages over the traditional treatments. Significant rates of incontinence and impotence are avoided with the radioactive seed procedure. An added benefit to this procedure is a quick return to normal activities, usually in one to three days.

Consult with your urologist or your attending physician to find out which treatment is best for you.

For physician referral for this procedure, check out Bayshore's Radiation Oncologists or Urologists.