Prostate Cancer
Prostate Seed Implant: what is brachytherapy for prostate cancer?
What is the short answer?
Brachytherapy places radioactive seeds inside the prostate.
The radiation stays very close to the cancer and drops off quickly, which helps protect nearby organs.
What else should I know?
It's usually a single outpatient procedure under anesthesia in our surgery centers.
Urinary symptoms like frequency are common for a few months.
When should I make an appointment?
If you're exploring radiation options, schedule a visit to see if seeds fit.
What happens at a visit?
Our two Gwinnett offices each include a surgery center: Snellville at 1557 Janmar Rd, Snellville, GA 30078 and Lawrenceville at 501 Crown Pointe Way, Lawrenceville, GA 30046. Let us know which part of the county you call home, and we’ll take it from there.
How do our urologists approach this?
Brachytherapy is one of several prostate cancer treatments Advanced Urology offers, and our Gwinnett urologists help you see where it fits. We look at your biopsy grade, MRI, PSA and current urinary symptoms. We also ask what matters most to you in recovery. Then we compare seeds with options such as robotic prostatectomy, HIFU and active surveillance, so you can choose with confidence.
What happens at a visit?
Your visit includes a review of your records and a conversation about the procedure, which takes place under anesthesia in our surgery centers. We’ll explain what the first few months may feel like and how often we’ll check your PSA.
How should I prepare?
Bring your biopsy and MRI reports. PSA history helps too.
When should I call?
Call us if urinary frequency or burning after the implant is hard to manage, or if you have questions about your next PSA date.
What do patients often ask?
These are the questions we hear most, each with a short answer.
Is it one treatment or many?
Seed implants are usually a single outpatient procedure under anesthesia, rather than daily visits.
Why does the radiation stay so close?
The seeds sit inside the prostate, so the radiation drops off quickly, which helps protect nearby organs.
Is there a video on this?
Here Dr. Marc Greenstein talks through prostate cancer and the care options.
- Watch: Dr. Greenstein on Prostate Cancer What the video covers: Dr. Greenstein talks about prostate cancer.
What should I read next?
Educational content; your own care plan comes from a visit. Back to the reading room