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Radiation Pellets for Treatment of Prostate Cancer

Pellet implantation treatment also called as internal radiation treatment, brachytherapy or seed implantation, involves implantation of small radioactive pellets into the prostate gland. Treatment of prostate cancer using radiation pellets is a relatively new treatment and can be used as an alternative to external radiation treatment and radical prostatectomy.

Treatment of prostate cancer using radiation pellets is done on outpatient basis under a general anesthesia. About 40-100 rice-sized radiation pellets are implanted in your prostate through ultrasound-guided needles. The number of radiation pellets implanted depends upon the size of prostate. The exact location for the placement of pellets is determined by a computer-generated treatment plan. These implanted pellets deliver a higher dose of radiation and kill the nearby prostate cells.

There are two types of pellet implants for prostate cancer, temporary pellet implantation treatment and permanent pellet implantation treatment. In case of temporary treatment, hollow needles are placed into the prostate gland and filled with radioactive material for about 5-15 minutes. The radioactive material and needles are removed after the treatment. In case of permanent treatment, radioactive pellets are implanted with the help of ultrasound. These pellets remain in place permanently and lose their radioactivity after some months.

These implanted pellets don’t have to be removed even after they stop emitting radiation. The implanted pellets may contain one of the radioactive isotopes, which include iodine and palladium. Iodine and palladium pellets emit radiation that travels only a few millimeters beyond their location and therefore isn't likely to escape the body in significant doses. But it is advisable to stay at least 6-7 feet away from children and pregnant women, especially from those who are sensitive to radiation. The radiation inside the pellets generally loses its radioactivity within a year.

Radiation pellets have very low energy and limited tissue penetration. Therefore the radiation pellet implantation treatment is used in patients with smaller or moderate-sized prostates with low-grade cancers. Sometimes, hormone treatment may be required for few months before the implantation of pellets to shrink the size of prostate.

Treatment of prostate cancer using radiation pellets is preferred over other treatments since it is for one-time and has only few short-term effects. Since pellets implantations deliver a higher dose of radiation to the urethra, you may experience some urinary problems and rectal problems. Urinary problems may include frequent and painful urination.

Urinary problems associated with radiation pellet implantation treatment are more severe and last for long time as compared to external radiation treatment. But the rectal problems associated with radiation pellet implantation treatment may be frequent and less severe. Impotence may occur in some men due to radioactive pellet implants.

Some of the recent studies show that some of these pellets may migrate from their original position and at the end you will have at least one pellet that ends up in the lungs. But it is not yet known that whether the pellets migrate immediately after placement or after some time. Some studies even show that radiation pellet implantation treatment when combined with external radiation treatment is more effective in treating prostate cancer.




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