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Brachytherapy- one or two procedures

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Posted 4/1/2009 1:54 PM (GMT 0)
I am considering seed therapy as a treatment option and have read that it involves two separate procedures - first a procedure to assess the size and shape of the prostate- a few days or weeks later a second procedure to actually implant the seeds.

Did I read on this site that it is lately being done as one procedure-- relevant for me as extensive travel involved.

I would appreciate any information.

Posted 4/1/2009 2:03 PM (GMT 0)
It probably just depends on the doctor...hospital etc,....

http://www.prostatecancerguide.net/brachytherapy-procedure.php
Posted 4/1/2009 3:56 PM (GMT 0)

We had two procedures - the first was the "mapping" (i.e. to determine where to lay the seeds) and the second was the actual surgical procedure to lay the seeds.

Let me know if there's anything else you want/need to know.

JustJulie

Posted 4/1/2009 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
There has to be a volume study done 1st to determine the amount of seeds and the seed placement. Most of the times the seeds come prearranged in tubes that have been determined by the volume study. It takes about 4 weeks to order the seed in the configuration the radiologist will use.
A good primer is "Brachytherapy and IMRT" by Dr Michael Dattoli.
JohnT
Posted 4/1/2009 5:06 PM (GMT 0)
Brother Tudpock, where are you, a good question for you to answer.
Posted 4/1/2009 6:49 PM (GMT 0)

,,,ok, David, here I am...

mj, in the vast majority of cases this is done in 2 separate procedures.  The volume study is done several weeks before the seeding.  The volume study allows the radiation oncologist to accurately judge the volume of the prostate and map the prostate for seed placement.  A very few doctors will do this just before seeding as they believe that they want the most current info possible on the size of the prostate.  My doc believed that that was not a good tradeoff, i.e. he felt taking the time to accurately determine seed placement was the best approach, hence my volume study was a month before my seeding.

Incidentally, the volume study for me was the worst part of the whole deal, as you can read if you choose to click the link on my journey below.  I recommend some mild relaxant pre-volume study if your doc's camera is as big as my doc's was.

Tudpock

Posted 4/1/2009 9:03 PM (GMT 0)
Tud, you are getting behind on your commission checks to me! lol
Posted 4/1/2009 9:59 PM (GMT 0)
My husband just had seed implant two weeks ago. We have to travel 5 hours to get to the hospital. Because of the distance the Dr. scheduled the volumne study,anesthesiologist appt. and his pre-procedure appt. on the same day. Then we went back up two weeks later the day before, had the procedure the next day and on our way home the day after that.  Most, if not all, motels around the hospital will give you a pretty large discount.

My husband has MS and didn't have any other option than seeding. He's doing very well and we're not sorry we choose this option.

At the bottom of the page is a link to our journal.

God bless you in your search for the right answers.
Posted 4/2/2009 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all your responses. Its a great comfort for me to have access to this place and the wonderful people I have encountered here.
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