For Release: October 26, 1998
Contact: Keri J. Sperry, (703) 295-6775
Michael J. Bernstein (703) 648-8910, [email protected]
Seed Implants Are Effective in Treating Early Stage Prostate Cancer
Patients who select radiation therapy for early prostate cancer have a choice: Brachytherapy (seed implants) and external beam radiation therapy are equally effective treatments for the majority of patients with the disease, according to a study by Arizona Oncology Services.
The study, one of the largest of its kind, reviewed the records of more than 2,200 patients treated in the Phoenix, AZ area. "Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in the Phoenix metropolitan area," notes David Brachman, M.D. Dr. Brachman presented the study at the annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology Oncology in Phoenix on October 26.
"We found that patients with T1 or T2 (early stage) prostate cancer, a Gleason score of six or under and PSA levels of 10 and under can choose their radiation treatment based on their lifestyle," Dr. Brachman says. "We reviewed PSA levels, bone scans and other diagnostic tests of these patient five years after treatment and found that about 80 percent (78 percent treated with external beam therapy and 84 percent by brachytherapy) had no indication of cancer recurrence," says Dr. Brachman. This is comparable to surgical series for similar stage patients, but brachytherapy is typically half the cost of radical prostatectomy," he adds.
External beam therapy requires seven weeks of treatment, while brachytherapy is an outpatient procedure, says Dr. Brachman. "A few patients are not able to undergo brachytherapy due to anatomic reasons or for other medical reasons; for these patients external beam radiation treatment remains the treatment of choice," he says.
"These days people often come in with a preconceived notion as to how they should be treated. It is our responsibility to provide our patients with the background information to help make informed choices, because selection of the right treatment -- based on survival rates, lifestyle issues and other factors -- is paramount," says Dr. Brachman.
The American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with more than 5,000 members. As a leading organization in radiation oncology, biology and physics, the society's goals are to advance the scientific base of radiation therapy and to extend the benefits of radiation therapy to those with cancer.
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