Prostate Cancer Treatment (NAPSA)—Medical researchers have good news for the 220,000 American men who will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year. Instead of surgery with its high incidence of complications, many could choose brachytherapy —also known as seeding. It provides cure rates equal to or better than surgery and offers scientifically proven advantages, including a lowerincidenceof impotence and incontinence. Before making treatment decisions, patients should learn about options so they don’t live with regret. Not all physicians treating prostate cancer have the specialized training to perform brachytherapy, which effectively fights cancer by implanting rice-sized radioactive pellets into the gland. The seeds, composed of palladium or iodine, deliver targeted, lowdose radiation to kill cancer cells from within the prostate, sparing nearby healthy tissue from radiation. This minimally invasive, outpatient procedure takes about 45 minutes. While there may be short-term side effects of urinary or rectal irritation, patients usually return home within hours and resume routine activities within days. Surgery—or radical prostatectomy—involves removing the prostate gland in an operation lasting up to four hours, followed by a three-to-four-day hospital stay. Urinary blockages, requiring additional operations, and infections are common. In addition, potential long-term complications include impotence, incontinence and penile shrinkage. Another approach, external “Prostate cancer patients should research proven treatments to obtain the best chance for a cure and a completelife,” says oncologist Dr. Michael Dattoli. During recent years respected medical journals have published independent clinical studies comparing treatments. Key findings reveal brachytherapy with a palladium base, such as TheraSeed, has cure rates equal to or better than surgery, yet without the degree of impotence and the higherrisk of incontinence associ- ated with prostate removal. In addition, palladium seeds act faster and result in shorter duration of side effects and fewer longterm complications than iodine seeds. “When considering options, patients should know that palladium-based brachytherapy offers the best combination of benefits— cure with the least complications,” says renowned oncologist Dr. Michael Dattoli of Sarasota, Fla. “The results are spectacular and superior to any other form of treatment.” Prostate cancer is the leading cancer in men (excluding nonmelanoma skin cancers). Men beam radiation, administers radi- over age 50 should receive annual testing. Those with a family his- tion and patients may experience are twice as likely to contract this disease—should begin screening at an earlier age. For further information about brachytherapy ation from outside the body in treatments scheduled five times a week, for about eight weeks. It exposes healthy tissue to radiaproblems with urination, rectal traumaor diarrhea. tory or African-Americans—who and a free video, call 800-458- 4372 or visit www.theraseed.com.
