Prostate cancer continues to increase in numbers worldwide, so promoting prevention and early diagnosis has become a challenge for thousands of organizations worldwide. But technology and science have also done their part in searching for new therapies that can help stop this disease: with radioactive sources.
The “good thing” compared to other types of cancer is that it is treatable in its early stages, so early detection is crucial to improve survival rates. Among its treatments, brachytherapy has established itself as an effective alternative.
What is brachytherapy?
Brachytherapy involves placing radioactive sources directly into or near the tumor, in this case, in the prostate. This technique has gained recognition as an effective and safe option for the treatment of prostate cancer.
It is considered a high-precision therapy, because brachytherapy allows precise delivery of radiation directly to the tumor, minimizing exposure to healthy surrounding tissues. This reduces the risk of side effects on adjacent organs such as the rectum and bladder.
In addition, it requires little time, unlike external radiation therapy, which can require several weeks of treatment, brachytherapy can be performed in one or a few sessions, depending on the specific type of brachytherapy (low or high dose rate).
“Minimizes the risks of sexual impotence”
Several studies have shown that brachytherapy offers cancer control rates comparable to or even superior to those of radical prostatectomy and external radiotherapy, especially in localized and low-risk prostate cancers.
“This radiation is used when prostate cancer is localized and, unlike external radiation, it has a greater tolerance and produces a deeper effect on prostate tissue. The procedure, which is outpatient and minimizes the risks of sexual impotence, compared to surgery and external radiotherapy lasts about an hour and a half, and between 100 and 120 seeds are implanted,” explains Felipe Balbontín, urologist and director of the Chilean Corporation against Prostate Cancer.
Less invasive
When talking about new therapies and technologies for the treatment of diseases, one of the population's first questions is regarding the impact or consequences. Specialists point out that this therapy “has less impact on quality of life and is less invasive.”
Patients who undergo brachytherapy typically experience fewer serious side effects related to sexual and urinary function compared to those who opt for surgery or external radiation therapy. Additionally, brachytherapy is less invasive than surgery, which results in Shorter recovery times and lower risk of postoperative complications.
Brachytherapy can be used alone or in combination with other treatment modalities, such as external radiation therapy and hormone therapy, for patients with more advanced or higher-risk prostate cancer. Long-term data support the efficacy of brachytherapy, showing significant disease-free survival rates in many