Comments on: Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer

By: Bill Smythe

Bill Smythe — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:36:47 +0000

I had Brachytherapy in Seattle Washington in July of 1989. Had over 100 paladium seeds implanted. Minimal damage was done. I was very satisfied. Back to work in 3 days. Never met anyone who had a prostatechtomy that wasn’t permanently damaged in some way. Its also false that prostatechtomy insures that the cancer will never return.

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 18:22:07 +0000

My husband was convinced that radiation seeds were the best for him. When surgeon & radiologist reported to me after surgery, I noted the “scared” look on radiologist’s face. Later we discovered that his anal area was burned to the point that he could no longer sit down. Within a year or so, he developed colorectal cancer and needed his rectum removed and an ostomy bag installed. It was so painful to watch him diminish. He passed away within a few months after that surgery due to many complications. Think hard about those seeds.

By: kathy

kathy — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:43:57 +0000

Rick Carter, yes I understand NOW that it is the best. I say research, research and talk to others. Although we live near Loma Linda, we were not aware of proton options last year when brachytherapy and external radiation was done. He now has severe bowl issues and pain. He now will go have a colonoscopy to see what is happening.

By: Ed Dulude

Ed Dulude — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:56:31 +0000

It behoves the patient to do his homework (research) before committing to this procedure. Not only from the standpoint of this procedure being his best option, but also from the standpoint of the experience levels of both the physician(s) and the facility. I received brachtherapy in August 1998 and consider myself blessed to be cancer free – but I did a lot of research on the procedure, the physician and the clinic. Cancer patients should assume the role of “partner” in their treatment; and, as such, share a degree of responsibility in the outcome.

By: Dave Corkum

Dave Corkum — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:48:04 +0000

I had brachytherapy done three years ago. There were significant side effects (prostatitis (resulting in penis pain) and some difficulty in emptying my bladder) for a couple of months. However, these effects lessened and my PSA, after briefly spiking for a couple of months about a year after the procedure, went from 6.7 to 0.8 in the last year and a half. My prostate cancer was diagnosed by rising PSA and biopsies, which detected small and isolated cancerous areas confined to the prostate. I am now 67.

By: Bob C.

Bob C. — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:18:39 +0000

Is this a sample of the Government run healthcare that we can expect from Mr. Obama? Medicare, Medicaid and the VA all seem to have glaring problems.
Brachytherapy has probably been around for 10 years or more. I hardly would call that “new”. Men need to kick and scream and holler to get the attention & funding level that has been provided for women and breast cancer. May God bless the men who have been so incompetently mistreated.
I am personally glad that I declined brachytherapy in 2004 and opted for surgery.

By: Rick Carter

Rick Carter — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:29:58 +0000

I think one of the most promising cancer treatments to come out in the past decade is the proton therapy which has been pioneered by Loma Linda Hospital in southern CA. It is truly exciting. They can determine the exact depth of the radiation by selectively varying the energy of these protons. I think if this proton therapy is used in combination with endoscopic surgery techniques in order to get as close as possible to the tumor site, then this technique can be used to treat a wide variety of cancers including prostate cancer with very little collateral damage to surrounding tissues, and therefore little adverse side effects as well. Comments, anyone? – Rick Carter

By: dave carey

dave carey — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:39:19 +0000

My father died from prostate cancer in 1999. He was a soil scientist and entomologist – too much of a thinker for hs own good. We advised removal, he flew off to Arizona for Brachytherapy. The doctors also tattooed his sides, belly and back with a blue dot for the radiation machine. In the end, within 6 months, his colon and intestines were so severely burnt from radiation, that 3 pints of blood would be transfused, and would flow out his rectum within hours. Platelets had no time to clot. In the end, he died from bleeding to death.

Too much radiation – be careful if you are considering this surgery…

By: Jim Yoder

Jim Yoder — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:06:25 +0000

i have not much good news on this treatment, i had my prostate robaticaly removed , no wories , many radiation fail in 5 years ,just my oponion