Let’s Beat Prostate Cancer Together
The Leon Hess Cancer Center at Monmouth Medical Center continues to break barriers in prostate cancer care through its state-of-the-art Institute for Advanced Radiation Oncology. The Institute for Advanced Radiation Oncology at Monmouth Medical Center is a leader in the region and was the first hospital in the region to offer two advanced radiation implant therapies for the treatment of prostate cancer. Our team of physicians is the most experienced in the region and has been performing brachytherapy for prostate cancer for more than 20 years. Our pioneering efforts in prostate cancer treatment have earned two annual Gallo Awards for Outstanding Cancer Research from The Cancer Institute of New Jersey. And we were the first hospital in central New Jersey to offer real-time, dynamic, computer-assisted planning for men with early-stage prostate cancer undergoing permanent seed brachytherapy.
Prostate Cancer Treatment
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United States. But thanks to advances in detecting and treating prostate cancer, survival rates have increased steadily in recent years, and most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from the disease. Radiation therapy is one way we treat prostate cancer, by utilizing high-energy rays or particles to kill cancer cells. Brachytherapy is performed as a one-time insertion, in the operating room. Both implant procedures can also be performed on "salvage" patients who have previously failed radiation therapy. Your prostate cancer team can answer questions about the utility, process and side effects of both of these types of radiation therapy.
Internal radiation therapy—also known as seed implant therapy or brachytherapy—involves surgically placing radioactive sources into the affected area during a one- to two-day procedure to treat prostate cancer. Monmouth Medical Center's Institute for Advanced Radiation Oncology offers two forms of brachytherapy for prostate cancer:- Seed Implant Therapy
- High-Dose Rate Brachytherapy
Seed Brachytherapy
Seed Brachytherapy (also called low dose rate or LDR) for men with early-stage prostate cancer involves the placement of low-energy radiation seeds that remain in the prostate to deliver treatment. This technique is beneficial because it enables a high-dose of radiation to be delivered to the prostate while maintaining the healthy tissue surrounding the prostate. These tiny radioactive capsules resemble grains of rice, so small that dozens can be cupped in the palm of your hand. But when these radioactive capsules are placed directly into the prostate gland, they deliver a powerful punch against prostate cancer. A sophisticated software program then calculates the number of seeds needed—and their precise placement—to deliver the most effective dose. It also provides 'real-time' dose calculation and dynamic feedback during the procedure. This innovative, low-dose procedure, which is performed by a team of highly skilled urologists, radiation oncologists, and physicists, dramatically limits the radiation dose to surrounding healthy tissue, and allows men to return to normal activities in a matter of days.
High-Dose Rate Brachytherapy
High-Dose Rate Brachytherapy, which treats intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer, involves placing radioactive sources into the targeted area and immediately removing them after each treatment session. HDR brachytherapy has been proven to be particularly effective against aggressive cancers and spares men the urinary, bowel, or sexual problems often associated with other forms of prostate cancer treatment. Using 3-D conformal radiation therapy that ensures radiation delivered is confined to the prostate, the high-dose rate radiation implant is inserted through a minimally invasive procedure performed by a team consisting of a radiation oncologist and an urologist. The patient then receives three 10- to 15-minute radiation treatments during a day stay or overnight procedure.
Len Kiczek: A Family History of Prostate Cancer
Brachytherapy Candidates
Each prostate cancer patient receives an individualized treatment plan based on several factors, including the age and health of the patient, the stage of the cancer, and the aggressiveness of the cells. After weighing these factors, a treatment plan is developed that best suits the patient's needs and gets him back on the road to recovery.
For surgical candidates, da Vinci Prostatectomy is the fastest growing treatment for prostate cancer in the United States. Monmouth's Institute for Robotic Surgery offers the da Vinci Surgical System — the most advanced of the robotic platforms. Additionally, the Leon Hess Cancer Center offers outpatient chemotherapy for patients with hormone-therapy-resistant prostate cancer.
Before making a decision on how to treat prostate cancer, talk to your urologist and a radiation oncologist. Together you can make the decision that is best for you.
Experts in Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and TreatmentOur doctors have been pioneers in the in the delivery of brachytherapy since 1998, when Monmouth Medical Center became the first hospital in the region to introduce HDR brachytherapy, earning it a Gallo Award for Outstanding Cancer Research from the Cancer Institute of New Jersey. Our brachytherapy experts were trained at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and are among the most experienced in performing these complex implants.
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