Guest guest Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 Ed S.: Some side effects of brachytherapy are here: http://www.prostate-cancer.com/brachytherapy/side- effects/brachytherapy-side-effects.html If that link does not work, just google " prostate brachytherapy side effects " for a listing of many sites where you can find more info. You might also try " prostate brachytherapy pain " Any of our members that have been through it may offer first hand info. Fuller > > Thanks..Good Advice. How is Brachy afterwards? painful? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 I recently talked with the Datolli Center, in Sarasota, Florida - another prostate treatment center of some reputation and success. They do Brachytherapy and External Beam Radiation - with the latest methods. But, I discovered - they will no longer do Brachytherapy alone. Their MDs will do a telephone consult with patients, prior to signing up for their services. Their MD told me, that there is enough positive chance that some " fingers " escaped the prostate gland - that they now couple their Brachytherapy Seeding, with a follow-on Radiation Beam treatment - sort of a double wammy. I suspect they pick their patients carefully - but their MD related that " .... we haven't lost any patients yet, to PCa, following our treatment regime " . I may have it confused, and I'm no MD - but I believe they do the Seeding first, with radioactive seeds left in gland. Then 4 or 5 weeks later - they follow it up with some form of modern confomal 3 or 4-D computerized External Beam - which actually also reinforces the seeding action, a 2nd time. Unfortunately their office is 150 miles from us. Fred O Spring Hill, FL > > This is all new but so confusing. Can't decide what to do. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 Hi Fred, Several brachytherapists give external radiation to the pelvic area just in case there may be some cancer outside the prostate. Many of them only do this depending on the PSA, Gleason and clinical diagnosis. The RCoG in Atlanta does this to all patients and they also have a very good success record. I wish you all the bestAubrey Pilgrim, DC (Ret.) Author ofA Revolutionary Approach to Prostate Cancer-Read the original book for FREE at: http://www.prostatepointers.org/prostate/lay/apilgrim/Read new edition for FREE at http://www.cancer.prostate-help.org/capilgr.htmDr. E. Crawford is co-author of the revision I recently talked with the Datolli Center, in Sarasota,Florida - another prostate treatment center of somereputation and success. They do Brachytherapy andExternal Beam Radiation - with the latest methods. But,I discovered - they will no longer do Brachytherapyalone.Their MDs will do a telephone consult with patients, priorto signing up for their services. Their MD told me, that there is enough positive chance that some "fingers" escapedthe prostate gland - that they now couple their BrachytherapySeeding, with a follow-on Radiation Beam treatment - sortof a double wammy. I suspect they pick their patients carefully - but their MDrelated that ".... we haven't lost any patients yet, toPCa, following our treatment regime".I may have it confused, and I'm no MD - but I believe theydo the Seeding first, with radioactive seeds left ingland. Then 4 or 5 weeks later - they follow it up with someform of modern confomal 3 or 4-D computerized ExternalBeam - which actually also reinforces the seeding action,a 2nd time.Unfortunately their office is 150 miles from us.Fred OSpring Hill, FL See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 Fred has it almost right. Actually, the Dattoli Cancer Center initially administers low dose IMRT to among other things, draw in those " fingers " (like tentacles) that spread from tumors in order that subsequent brachytherapy seed implant with Palladium 103 seeds can have more effect on the tumors. Then, a few months following the seed implant, the patient returns for another short series of IMRT. Here is an explanation as to the reasoning behind this three-step procedure: " Traditionally, patients at the Dattoli Cancer Center are treated to an initial dose level of approximately 41Gy prior to interstitial brachytherapy. This dose level typically covers not only the prostate, but also potentially surrounding target tissues (including, but not limited to, seminal vesicles, periprostatic lymph nodes, obturator lymph nodes, internal iliac lymph nodes, and even common iliac and para-aortic nodes per individual case as indicated). The 41Gy dose was initially chosen since early physics and radiobiologic evaluations performed by physicists at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSKCC), especially Dr. Lowell , suggested that this dose given along with an attenuated dose of palladium-103 of 8000-9000cGy would not exceed rectal, urethral or bladder tolerances. Bear in mind that in the latter 1980's, no one knew the correct doses when combining EBRT + Pd-103. At that time, the Pd-103 isotope was relatively new and Dr. was instrumental in characterizing the physical parameters and laid the groundwork for clinical models. Dr. Dattoli worked closely with Dr. and other physicists at MSKCC and adopted these dose parameters, and has since, never had an incidence of rectal fistula or urethral-rectal fistula. The dose of 41Gy, however, is insufficient in most cases to eradicate microscopic, and especially potentially macroscopic cancer cells, at a distance from the prostate gland. For this reason, following the implant procedure, our physics/dosimetry staff then generates precise isodose curves eminating from the seed implant (both inside and outside the gland). The dose projected by the seeds to a given distance from the prostate can then be precisely calculated up to the point of near complete decay of the palladium 103 at the three month mark status post seeding. For this reason, most patients return approximately three months status post seeding (at the point of near decay of the isotope) to receive additional treatments to peripheral target tissue sites while blocking the prostate, bladder, rectum, and proximal penile tissues. " (Chuck) Maack Prostate Cancer Advocate > > > > This is all new but so confusing. Can't decide what to do. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 If you want to read about other men’s barchy experiences – and mail them with any questions you might have, why don’t you go along to http://www.yananow.net/Radiation.htm#brachy All the best Terry Herbert I have no medical qualifications but I was diagnosed in ‘96: and have learned a bit since then. My sites are at www.yananow.net and www.prostatecancerwatchfulwaiting.co.za Dr “Snuffy” Myers : " As a physician, I am painfully aware that most of the decisions we make with regard to prostate cancer are made with inadequate data " From: ProstateCancerSupport [mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ] On Behalf Of Fuller Sent: Monday, 5 November 2007 11:26 PM To: ProstateCancerSupport Subject: Re: Confusing Ed S.: Some side effects of brachytherapy are here: http://www.prostate-cancer.com/brachytherapy/side- effects/brachytherapy-side-effects.html If that link does not work, just google " prostate brachytherapy side effects " for a listing of many sites where you can find more info. You might also try " prostate brachytherapy pain " Any of our members that have been through it may offer first hand info. Fuller > > Thanks..Good Advice. How is Brachy afterwards? painful? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 " ...150 miles from us " 150 miles is a very small distance in the grand scheme of things, especially obtaining your treatment of choice for prostate cancer! Fuller > > > > > > > > > This is all new but so confusing. Can't decide what to do. > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 2007 Report Share Posted November 6, 2007 Fuller, If travel is a problem for someone, and they depend on others for transportation, or commercial trasportation, then it is a big problem. Rick > > > > > > > > This is all new but so confusing. Can't decide what to do. > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 6, 2007 Report Share Posted November 6, 2007 Perhaps one way to help would be, after reading about the modes of treatment you are most interested in, make some short lists. On one, list the qualities most important to you in a treatment-and that can be from your own perceptions of what you have read, here and in other places, or had others, including doctors tell you. (length of time, invasiveness of treatment, length of incapacitation,side effects, etc) On another, list your needs in terms of quality of life--what things are important to maintain? What are you willing to sacrifice in order to have treatment that leaves you feeling somewhat confident in its choice?? (continence, potency, ability to return to work, etc. Finally, all the treatment modalities you are seriously considering-- the pros and cons of each--and how they fit in to the above mentioned values and requirements. I think (I hope!)every man in this group would say that he made the choice he made because it seemed the right thing for him to do at the time. You may notice that there seems to be a pattern of repetition of the items--which may be the factor that leleads to the final decision. I have learned so very much from the members of this group in my search for answers for my spouse in past 6 months. The resources are limitless and the bottom line is you sum together all the plusses and minuses and get an answer for YOU! Carol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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