Cancer Treatment

Radioactive Seed Implantation Therapy at Glens Falls Hospital

These tiy seeds could be your best option for prostate cancer treatment

If you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, you undoubtedly have many questions and concerns. Choosing a course of treatment can be a difficult decision. You will want to consult with your health care team, talk with your family and learn about all of your options.

Historically, most prostate cancer patients have been treated through one of the following procedures:

	Radical prostatectomy: Surgical removal of the prostate gland through an incision in the lower abdomen.
	*External beam radiation*: X-rays delivered by an accelerator are used to sterilize the cancer.

Hormonal therapy: Either surgery or medication designed to eliminate the male hormone, testosterone, which fuels the cancer.

The C.R. Wood Cancer Center at Glens Falls Hospital offers wider treatment options with Radioactive Seed Implantation -- a therapy proven effective at curing cancer and reducing the risk of impotence and incontinence for many early stage prostate cancer patients.

The tiny radioactive seeds implanted in the prostate gland are approximately the size of a grain of rice.

An effective alternative early-stage prostate cancer treatment.

Since 1997, the C.R. Wood Cancer Canter has offered prostate implant therapy. Prostate implant therapy has been proven effective at curing prostate cancer and reducing the risk of impotence and incontinence for many early stage prostate cancer patients.

With this therapy, typically between 60 and 120 tiny radioactive seeds are implanted in the prostate gland, where they destroy cancer cells by releasing a continuous dose of low-level radiation for approximately three months. During the procedure, our radiation oncologists are guided by real-time ultrasound planning. This method allows them to detect even the slightest movement of the gland during the procedure and ensures the most effective seed distribution. No surgical incisions are necessary. The entire procedure takes approximately 2 hours and most patients are back home within 6 hours.

More than 10 years of data on prostate implant therapy show comparable cure rates for many prostate cancer patients when compared to other treatment methods. Some patients may also require external beam radiation in addition the implant.

For more information:

For more information on this therapy, please contact your doctor or call the C.R. Wood Cancer Center at Glens Falls Hospital at (518) 926-6629.