Prostate brachytherapy causes fewer side effects than surgery
Feb 28, 2007 - 10:13:20 AM
, Reviewed by: Dr. Rashmi Yadav
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This study is exciting because its the first time we have a comparative study to assess the costs in a given country and see if the side effects are different for patients who received surgery or brachytherapy."
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By American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology,
[RxPG] Men with prostate cancer have a slightly better long-term side effects profile with radiation seed implants than they do with surgery, according to a study released today in the International Journal for Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, the official journal of ASTRO.
Doctors in France conducted the first-ever multi-institutional, comparative study of men with early stage
prostate cancer to evaluate a mans quality of life, treatment-related side effects and cost of the treatment based
on the type of treatment the patient received: surgery or seed implants, both widely-accepted modes of treatment for early-stage prostate cancer. With prostate surgery, called a radical prostatectomy, a surgeon removes the prostate. During prostate brachytherapy, a radiation oncologist places radioactive seeds, similar to the size of a grain of rice, into the prostate to kill the cancer.
In this study, 435 men with prostate cancer were surveyed before treatment, immediately after treatment and subsequently at follow-up exams to gauge their quality of life and treatment-related side effects against predefined materials given to them by the doctors. Doctors found that brachytherapy is a more expensive procedure at the outset, but that follow-up costs related to surgery cause both treatments to cost about the same.
With regard to side effects, surgery had more significant side effects immediately following treatment, but those side effects improved steadily over two years. Brachytherapy, however, showed moderate, but persistent side effects over the two years. Urinary incontinence was more common after surgery; however, urinary irritation was a more common complaint from those who received brachytherapy. Impairment of sexual function was found to be consistently higher among those who received surgery than those who received brachytherapy.
This study is exciting because its the first time we have a comparative study to assess the costs in a given country and see if the side effects are different for patients who received surgery or brachytherapy, said Jean-Marc Cosset, M.D., one of the authors of the study and a radiation oncologist in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Institut Curie in Paris, France. By looking at these factors, we are better able to tailor a suitable treatment option for the individual patient.
Publication:
International Journal for Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics
On the web:
http://www.astro.org/ 
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About Dr. Rashmi Yadav
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This news story has been reviewed by Dr. Rashmi Yadav before its publication on RxPG News website. Dr. Rashmi Yadav, MBBS, is a senior editor for RxPG News. In her position she is responsible for managing special correspondents and the surgery section of the website. Her areas of special interest include cardiothoracic surgery and interventional radiology.
RxPG News is committed to promotion and implementation of Evidence Based Medical Journalism in all channels of mass media including internet.
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Additional information about the news article
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For more information about prostate cancer treatment options, please visit www.rtanswers.org.
ASTRO is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with more than 8,600 members who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. As the leading organization in radiation oncology, biology and physics, the Society is dedicated to the advancement of the practice of radiation oncology by promoting excellence in patient care, providing opportunities for educational and professional development, promoting research and disseminating research results and representing radiation oncology in a rapidly
evolving socioeconomic healthcare environment.
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