Study Shows Advantages of New Prostate Cancer Treatment

A new study has shown that brachytherapy treatment of prostate cancer patients using the Cesium-131 Isotope provides a targeted, fast-acting treatment, within a 30-day delivery time, that is significantly better than other isotopes.

While many prostate cancer patients still undergo costly invasive surgery, or long-term radiation treatment, then new brachytherapy treatment could provide a more cost-effective and safer alternative with fewer side effects.

The study was published in the August 1, 2017, issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics. The researchers evaluated the long-term Quality of Life (QOL) scores reported by patients with prostate cancer, and showed that treatment using the newest brachytherapy isotope, Cesium-131, reduced the QOL and the length of the recovery period. The faster-acting Cesium-131 isotope is made by Isoray Medical (Richmond, WA, USA) and enables patients to recover faster from the radiation side effects, and return to normal bowel, urinary, and sexual function than those treated with other brachytherapy isotopes. Isoray uses a new proprietary process to manufacture the Cesium-131 brachytherapy isotope seeds.

Chicago Prostate Cancer Center medical director, Dr. Brian Moran, said, "For far too long, patients have been treated for prostate cancer based on a medical professionals' familiarity or, in some cases, due to far greater financial benefits to the physician. This study reinforces that a new, patient-friendly treatment exists. Brachytherapy with Cesium-131 leverages the isotope's short half-life to significantly reduce the duration of long-term symptoms and side effects."

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