Treatment Selector

Treatment selector

Radical therapies are designed to remove or kill the cancer cells but none of the available treatments can guarantee a complete removal of the cancer cells. The three most commonly used radical therapies are surgery to remove the prostate gland (called a prostatectomy), conventional or external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) which involves radiotherapy delivered from outside the body and which therefore passes through healthy parts of the body to reach the prostate gland, or prostate brachytherapy.

Even if you have surgery to remove the whole prostate gland there is a chance that not all the cancer cells will have been removed. Studies have shown that cancer cells may still be present in at least 15 and even in as many as 50 patients in every 100 patients undergoing surgery and such patients are frequently then given radiotherapy to the whole pelvis often including parts of the bladder and bowel.

The success rates for each of the three radical treatments were compared in a research study of nearly 3,000 patients with early prostate cancer carried out in the USA between 1990 and 1998. These success rates known as relapse free survival rates (the percentage of patients who would be expected to be free of prostate cancer 5 or 7 years after treatment) are shown below:
Relapse free survivalRadical ProstatectomyExternal Bean Radiotherapy (EBRT)BrachytherapyBrachytherapy with additional EBRT
5 years after treatment91%81%96%95%
7 years after treatment88%82%93%92%
Treatment Selector Table

Treatment Selector Table
(Click to enlarge)

The treatment selector table will help you to discuss with your partner and your healthcare team if you are suitable for prostate brachytherapy. Click the image to the left to use the Treatment selector table.

If you want to look at the side effects that each of the available treatments may cause click the image on the right to see the Side effects table.

Side Effects Table

Side Effects Table
(Click to enlarge)

The right treatment for you will depend on the stage of your cancer, your age, possible side effects, quality of life considerations, whether your disease might potentially develop over time, and of course, your own personal preferences. The Medical Team at The Prostate Brachytherapy Centre will discuss all your treatment options with you. If you want to find out more about the treatments available to help you with your discussions Contact us. We look forward to talking to you

Your care is delivered by a very experienced multidisciplinary clinical team, providing patient-centred, personalised prostate cancer treatment tailored to your individual needs. We use highly effective proven treatments designed to achieve the best possible long-term cancer outcomes while minimising side effects.