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Radioactive seed implants (brachytherapy) for prostate cancer: Pros and cons
By Mayo Clinic staffRadioactive seed implants (brachytherapy) may be an effective way to treat your prostate cancer. Consider the following pros and cons of this method before making your decision:
| Pros of radioactive seed implant therapy | Cons of radioactive seed implant therapy |
|---|---|
| It delivers a higher dose of radiation than does external beam radiation. | It can have a delayed effect on your sexual function. |
| It may cause less damage to your rectum and other surrounding tissues than does external beam radiation. | It may not be a good choice for men who already have a lot of urinary symptoms. |
| It requires about one to two hours for the implantation procedure, which is done on an outpatient basis. Overnight hospital stay is not needed. | It causes more urinary side effects in most men than external beam radiation. Rarely, urinary incontinence may develop several years after treatment. |
| Sexual side effects may not be as severe soon after the procedure as they are after surgery. | It carries a small risk of seeds moving to the lungs or other parts of the body. |
| It requires a spinal or general anesthetic. | |
| Narrowing (stricture) of the urethra is more common than with external beam radiation. This can lead to difficult urination. | |
| There's a small chance of serious injury to the bladder and rectum that may require surgery to repair. | |
| It doesn't treat the area around the prostate as well as does external radiation. In people with more extensive cancer, seed implants may need to be combined with external beam radiation. |
