Prospera

How it works

If your doctor concludes that you are an excellent candidate for prostate brachytherapy, this is how it works.

Treatment plan. Your doctor will prescribe the type and number of Prospera seeds required to treat your cancer. The medical physicist will map the placement of the seeds based on the volume and shape of your prostate gland, and the location of the tumor.

Treatment delivery. Prospera seeds are extremely small. They are inserted with long, thin SurTRAK needles through the perineum. This is the area between the scrotum and the anus. Ultrasound imaging ensures proper placement of the seeds according to your treatment plan. Over time the radiation decays, allowing the seeds to stay in place permanently.

You can find more detailed information in our Prostate Brachytherapy Overview. Whenever you have questions, feel free to talk to your physician.

ClearPath

How it works

If your doctor concludes that you are an excellent candidate for ClearPath brachytherapy, this is how it works.

Preparation. Following your lumpectomy, the ClearPath applicator will be inserted into the space where the tumor was removed. The applicator has multiple catheters that expand to the shape of the tumor site. With the applicator in place you will be able to sleep comfortably and participate in most normal activities.

Treatment plan. Your doctor will prescribe the radiation dose required to treat your cancer. Then the radiation oncology team will generate a plan for delivering the prescribed dose based on the volume, shape, and location of the tumor site.

Treatment delivery. At the time of treatment, a radioactive source will be threaded into the catheters of the ClearPath applicator. The treatment plan determines how long the seed remains in each catheter. You will most likely receive two treatments a day for five days. Then the ClearPath applicator will be removed.

You are bound to have questions. At any point, feel free to talk to your physician.

View the ClearPath brochure.