Dozens of tiny radioactive seeds are implanted in the prostate gland. The rationale is that radioactive material provides a constant dose of radiation to the malignancy. But since it is confined to the prostate gland, it's less likely to affect surrounding tissues and cause complications. This therapeutic approach is favoured for another reason. The procedure only takes an hour and can often be done on an out-patient basis.
Recovery time is short and patients can usually return to normal activities within a few days.
A recent report from Johns Hopkins University, however, claims that seed therapy is less likely to result in a cure. This, they claim, has increased survival rates. Dr. Theodore DeWeese, an assistant professor of radiation oncology at Johns Hopkins, casts doubt on this claim. Blood levels of PSA were used to determine the effectiveness of these procedures. An increase in PSA indicated the malignancy had not been cured.