Brachytherapy

Email this page to a friend

Want news about Brachytherapy and more e-mailed to you? Click here for free email alerts

You Don't Have to be Afraid of Cancer Anymore Bill Sardi See book keywords and concepts

This procedure is usually performed by a urologist and/or a radiation oncologist who insert tiny radioactive seeds into the prostate gland. brachytherapy is usually recommended when men are reluctant to undergo more invasive treatment or when invasive treatment is known to be of little value. The seeds irradiate and destroy the tumor from the inside. Long-term data on this treatment is just now becoming available. Men may read about studies that appear very positive.

International Journal Radiation Oncology Biological Physics 64:810-16, 2006] The side effects caused by brachytherapy: loss of urinary control, decreased sexual function and erections, appear to subside over time after placement of the seeds. [International Journal Radiation Oncology Biological Physics 62: 956-64, 2005] However, the appeal of seed implants is that they pose the least discomfort and interruption of daily activities as compared to surgery, yet long-term impotency has been reported.

For men who are wary of surgery, the radium seed implants appears to be more appealing, but then again, there are significant complications posed by brachytherapy and it is still considered an unproven treatment. Since, for the most part, treatment doesn't appear to be much better than watchful waiting, most patients who elect to undergo treatment usually focus on the potential for side effects. When men sign a consent form for treatment, the form mentions the risk for side effects, such as impotence and loss of urinary control, but few consent forms say how often these problems occur.

As for high-risk prostate cancer, no standard treatment, be it radical prostatectomy (surgery) or brachytherapy (seed implants) yield adequate results." [British Journal Urology International 93: 5, 2004] In other words, the slow, progressive form of the disease makes the doctor appear to be providing effective treatment. For the fast-progressing form, there is no proven treatment.

NBC News, May 11, 2004] Furthermore, the prostate cancer care industry parades rich and famous males who have elected to undergo prostate cancer treatment as if it's a mark of bravery to undergo treatment, and characterize it as painless and a "snap" with brachytherapy outpatient procedures. How much longer will men fall for this charade? Men should develop a mindset that they will inevitably have cancer cells harbored in their prostate gland if they live long enough. For the most part, diagnosis or treatment will not alter the course of the disease.

He altered his diet and elected to undergo radiation treatment plus an unproven treatment called brachytherapy (radiation seed implant) followed by estrogen hormone therapy to further shrink or retard growth of prostate cancer. Dr. Myers gained the attention of males since he firmly does not recommend flaxseed oil, the richest source of omega-3 oil, for men. He prefers fish oil Dr.

Unleash the Inner Healing Power of Foods The Editors of FC&A See book keywords and concepts

Doctors often supplement breast irradiation with internal radiation therapy, called brachytherapy. This method delivers radioactive "seeds" directly to the cancer site through multiple catheters. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new brachytherapy device called MammoSite, which delivers all its radiation through just one catheter. Even better, five days of daily treatments may be enough. Researchers hope some women can eventually use it as the sole radiation treatment for early-stage tumors.

Bottom Line's Health Breakthroughs 2007 Bottom Line Health See book keywords and concepts

Radiation therapy includes external beam therapy (the oldest type, which focuses intense energy on the tumor from a number of angles to destroy it, while limiting exposure of normal tissues). In brachytherapy, "seeds," or tiny pellets of radioactive material, are implanted within the prostate itself to deliver radiation to the tumor. Latest development: Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) finely adjusts an external radiation beam to conform to the shape of the tumor. And seeds can now be targeted more precisely using ultrasound imaging.

Nutrition in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease Ann M. Coulston and Carol J. Boushey See book keywords and concepts

Radiation injury from x-ray exposure during brachytherapy localization. Med, Phys, 27, 1681-1684. 280. Everett, E., Tamimi, H., Greer, B., et al. (2003). The effect of body mass index on clinical/pathologic features, surgical morbidity, and outcome in patients with endometrial cancer. Gynecol. Oncol. 90, 150-157. 281. von Gruenigen, V. E., Tian, C, Frasure, H., Waggoner, S., Keys, FL, and Barakat, R. R. (2006). Treatment effects, disease recurrence, and survival in obese women with early endometrial carcinoma: A Gynecologic Oncology Group study. Cancer 107, 2786-2791. 282. Anderson, B.

The Natural Pharmacy: Complete A-Z Reference to Natural Treatments for Common Health Conditions Alan R. Gaby, M.D., Jonathan V. Wright, M.D., Forrest Batz, Pharm.D. Rick Chester, RPh., N.D., DipLAc. George Constantine, R.Ph., Ph.D. Linnea D. Thompson, Pharm.D., N.D. See book keywords and concepts

With brachytherapy, radiation is emitted from tiny radioactive seeds that are inserted directly into the prostate. Men who are older and appear to have less aggressive disease might delay treatment until symptoms develop—a plan called "watchful waiting." Watchful waiting is sometimes considered a reasonable approach, because the side effects of treatment are usually significant, while their therapeutic benefits often appear to be relatively small and sometimes unclear. In addition, since prostate tumors often grow slowly, older men often die from diseases unrelated to the prostate cancer.

Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements Phyllis A. Balch, CNC See book keywords and concepts

Brachytherapy (a form of radiation treatment in which tiny pellets containing radioactive material are implanted directly into the prostate) and neoadjuvant therapy (a combination of radiation and hormonal treatment) are other approaches that may be recommended for fighting prostate cancer. Q An expensive newer drug, finasteride (Proscar), is sometimes used to treat moderate prostate enlargement. It blocks an enzyme that converts the male hormone testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, which promotes the growth of prostate tissue.

Unleash the Inner Healing Power of Foods The Editors of FC&A See book keywords and concepts

Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new brachytherapy device called MammoSite, which delivers all its radiation through just one catheter. Even better, five days of daily treatments may be enough. Researchers hope some women can eventually use it as the sole radiation treatment for early-stage tumors. Harvest some cancer prevention A traditional American Thanksgiving dinner could help you prevent breast cancer. But why wait for a holiday? Feast on these festive treats year round, and you may get protection you can be thankful for. Binge on beta carotene.

Permanent Remissions Robert Hass, M.S. See book keywords and concepts

Radiation oncologists regard brachytherapy as a precise way of zapping the prostate and not the surrounding vital structures, thereby avoiding damage to the nerves feeding the prostate gland. This can help avoid unpleasant side effects associated with irradiation of the prostate, such as urinary incontinence, impotency, and severe infections. But brachytherapy may be used only when the cancer is clearly confined to the prostate. Doctors use external-beam radiation when the tumor is too large for brachytherapy or has spread beyond the prostate.

Disease Prevention and Treatment The Life Extension Editorial Staff See book keywords and concepts

In the interim, major hospitals are gearing for brachytherapy as an option for patients with chronic coronary artery disease who are subject to adhesions following cardiac procedures. Chelation Therapy: Is It a Bonafide Alternative to Heart Surgery? Chelation therapy represents to some a safe, effective, and relatively inexpensive treatment to restore blood flow through atherosclerotic vessels. The word chelation is derived from a Greek translation meaning "claw-like," or capable of expunging accumulated atheromatous materials from the body.

Permanent Remissions Robert Hass, M.S. See book keywords and concepts

Hal's physician believed that the cancer was advanced enough to recommend external-beam radiation, in which the prostate is irradiated from an external source, as opposed to brachytherapy, in which radioactive pellets are premanently inserted into the prostate and radiate the gland from within. Radiation oncologists regard brachytherapy as a precise way of zapping the prostate and not the surrounding vital structures, thereby avoiding damage to the nerves feeding the prostate gland.

Disease Prevention and Treatment The Life Extension Editorial Staff See book keywords and concepts

For example, at 6 months, the in-stent restenosis rate was 21% among 60 patients assigned brachytherapy compared to 44% in a control group. At 12 months, the rate of revascularization of the target lesion was 70% less among the persons receiving gamma-radiation therapy; the incidence of a major cardiac event was 49% less (Waksman et al. 2002). The one-time exposure to radiation does no apparent harm to heart tissue or the artery. The Journal of the American Heart Association reported that an assessment of the procedure at the 3-year interval indicated it was both safe and effective.

The large GV in this example would adversely affect the outcome of the patient undergoing treatment with radiation therapy (external beam and/or brachytherapy) or cryosurgery.81^5 This would be especially true in the setting of an AUA symptom index greater than 20, a maximum urine flow of 10 mL per second or less, and even a GV greater than 40 grams or cc.86 However, controversy in this area does still remain.87 These data inputs are evolving as we understand more and more about the biological story and what is most important for a successful clinical outcome.

These include the following: • The use of temperature monitoring using thermo-couples143'186'18^ • The use of double and ttiple freezing techniques143'186 • The use of Argon gas instead of liquid nitrogen to induce the freezing necessary for creation of the iceball • The recent use of templates to guide the placement of the cryosurgery probes, similar to those used in brachytherapy 91 The fine points of RP, RT, and cryosurgery are extensively dealt with in the Primer (now available through amazon.com, Barnes 6k Noble, Borders, and the Life Extension Foundation at (866) 820-7457).

HIGH-DOSE RATE (HDR) BRACHYTHERAPY: Involves inserting iridium wires into the prostate gland through hollow plastic needles that are placed under transrectal ultrasound guidance. Once the radiation dose is delivered, the wires are withdrawn from the prostate. HORMONE: Substances that are produced in the body that act as messengers, communicating information between cells. Usually peptides or steroids, they are produced by one tissue and delivered via the bloodstream to another tissue to affect physiological activity such as growth or metabolism.

Vascular brachytherapy, the placement of intracoronary radioactive sources, has dramatically lowered neo (new) intimal growth patterns following angioplasty trauma. A Scripps research team in Lajolla, California, headed by Dr. Paul S. Teirstein, inserted a ribbon of radioactive pellets into the artery for 20-45 minutes to help prevent the growth of scar tissue. In a preliminary clinical study conducted by Teirstein and colleagues, the incidence of in-stent restenosis (at the 6-month follow-up) declined from 54% without intracoronary radiation to 17% with radiation, a difference of almost 70%.

Beating Cancer with Nutrition Patrick Quillin, PhD,RD,CNS See book keywords and concepts

Radiation therapy can be externally or internally originated, high or low dose and delivered with uncanny computer-assisted precision to the site of the tumor. brachytherapy, or interstitial radiation therapy, places the source of radiation directly into the tumor, as an implanted seed. New techniques use radiation in combination with heat therapy (hyperthermia). Surgery is the first treatment of choice for about 67% of cancer patients. By 1600 B.C., Egyptian physicians were excising tumors using knives or red-hot irons.

Radiation therapy has its place, especially as the highly targeted brachytherapy. Surgery has its place, especially when the tumor has been encapsulated and can be removed without bursting the collagen envelope. Hyperthermia can be extremely valuable in about 4% of all cancer cases. Combinations of these traditional therapies are becoming better accepted in medical circles. Later in this book, you will see the synergism in creative combinations of conventional and unconventional cancer therapies, like quercetin (a bioflavonid) and heat therapy or niacin with radiation therapy.

Permanent Remissions Robert Hass, M.S. See book keywords and concepts

Doctors use external-beam radiation when the tumor is too large for brachytherapy or has spread beyond the prostate. According to Hal's doctor, without external-beam radiation, the cancer would continue growing. But to Hal, the possible side effects of impotence or urinary incontinence were as unacceptable as dying prematurely from cancer. Hal's physician was critical of his decision to forgo radiotherapy, but Hal decided, nevertheless, to pursue a nutritional remedy for his disease. Hal decided to play a role in his own cure by trying an alternative approach to radiotherapy.

FAIR USE NOTICE: The research quoted here is provided under the protection of Fair Use provisions and published by the 501(c)3 non-profit Consumer Wellness Center for the purposes of public comment and education. Authors / publishers may submit books for consideration of inclusion here.

TERMS OF USE: Read full terms of use. Citations of text from NaturalPedia must include: 1) Full credit to the original author and book title. 2) Secondary credit to the Natural News Naturalpedia as a research resource and a link to www.NaturalNews.com/np/index.html

This unique compilation of research is copyright (c) 2008 by the non-profit Consumer Wellness Center.

ABOUT THE CREATOR OF NATURALPEDIA: Mike Adams, the creator of this NaturalNews Naturalpedia, is the editor of NaturalNews.com, the internet's top natural health news site, creator of the Honest Food Guide (www.HonestFoodGuide.org), a free downloadable consumer food guide based on natural health principles, author of Grocery Warning, The 7 Laws of Nutrition, Natural Health Solutions, and many other books available at www.TruthPublishing.com, creator of the earth-friendly EcoLEDs company (www.EcoLEDs.com) that manufactures energy-efficient LED lighting products, founder of Arial Software (www.ArialSoftware.com), a permission e-mail technology company, creator of the CounterThink Cartoon series (www.NaturalNews.com/index-cartoons.html) and author of over 1,500 articles, interviews, special reports and reference guides available at www.NaturalNews.com. Adams' personal philosophy and health statistics are available at www.HealthRanger.org.