Brachytherapy

Another method of treating prostate cancer with radiation is brachytherapy, in which radioactive seeds (tiny metal pellets) are implanted directly into the tumor. Brachytherapy is appropriate for men with early-stage prostate cancer (stage T1) who have a Gleason score of 6 or less and a PSA level less than 10 ng/mL. But the procedure does not appear to be as effective as radical prostatectomy or external beam radiation therapy for men with higher stages or grades of disease.

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The side effects of brachytherapy are similar to those of external beam radiation therapy—urinary and bowel problems. But these complications may occur more often with brachytherapy than with external beam radiation. In addition, the radioactive seeds can migrate to other parts of the body, such as the lungs, though research suggests that seed migration has no negative consequences.

Because brachytherapy is associated with a lower chance of a cure and a somewhat higher chance of complications than external beam radiation therapy, the latter is still considered the gold standard of radiation treatment for prostate cancer.

This section also includes information on advanced techniques for brachytherapy.