Brachytherapy for prostate cancer?

Question

My brother, 65 yrs. has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

His PSA is 8.01. He had his staging and his bone and CT scan were negative and there is no evidence of metastatic disease. He is aware that if he goes through with surgery, he has the risks of incontinence, and erectile dysfunction.

I'd like to know if anyone has been in a similar situation and if so what did you opt for, and any side effects, if any.

Thank you very much.

Answer 1

I do not have prostate cancer but I did receive several excellent articles this week about brachytherapy for prostate cancer, the first four of  which came from the August 2008 issue of Oncology. Here are the URLs. Hopefully you should be able to read the full text articles for free.

http://www.cancernetwork.com/cme/article...

http://www.cancernetwork.com/cme/article...

http://www.cancernetwork.com/cme/article...

http://www.cancernetwork.com/cme/article...

http://www.cancernetwork.com/display/art...

http://www.cancernetwork.com/cme/article...

After you read through these articles let me know if you have any difficulty understanding what they are trying to say. Sometimes I can help and sometimes I can't.

all the best to you both

Answer 2

I did the surgery, and have a good result.  after surgery there is some dribbling and maybe one or two nocturnal accidents but improvement rapidly...after 6 weeks he should be able to resume normal activies.  he should get some depends guards and depending if the nerves are intact his choice of pill for erectile dys should help... i wish him well

Answer 3

I had prostate cancer in 2005 and had Proton Radiation for it at Loma Linda Universty Medical Center in Loma Lindal California.  Proton Radiaiton is very different from conventional radiation in that  Proton has little to no side effects and a 90%cure rate.  I think it is by far the best type treatment available for prostate cancer today and  why not 90% cure rate and no side effects.. There is a website called Proton Bob that tells alot about prostate cancer and proton radiation.. If you go to the website be sure and read the Patient Testimonial section from former proton patients.. we are all sold on it.. There is also a book just out called YOU CAN BEAT PROSTATE CANCER, written by Robert J. Marckini (a prostate cancer survivor).  It is great. Any one with prostate problems should read it. It can be purchased at barnes and noble and several other book stores or it can be purchased on line at the Proton Bob website.. I was 63 when diagnosed and my psa was 8 with a gleason of 6 ..  My psa is now.13 .. thats point one three.. I was never sick or felt bad one single day during or after my treatments.. It was like a 9 week vacation in southern california...and Im cured... If you have any questions about my experience with prostate cancer or proton radiation, please feel free to email me here on yahoo answers.. again .. I did alot of checking before I had my treatments and became convinced proton radiation was the best treatment and now that I have had the treatment.. I am totally convinced.. If you read the patient testimonials like I said you will  see that any one who has had it will tell you the same.. Have a good day.. hope this helps.....Oh  I have no incontinence and all my plumbing works just as before.. like I said ...no side effects.. one thing.. the reasont there are no side effects is that 90% of the treatment energy is released exactly at the point of the tumor...therefore surrounding tissue and organs are not damaged as in other type treatments...Its the best!!!!!