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Brachytherapy Combination Packs a Punch Against High-Risk Prostate Cancer: Study

A recent study looked at this topic to determine which might offer more positive results: hormone therapy combined with brachytherapy or hormone therapy coupled with external beam radiotherapy.

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Brachytherapy Combination Packs a Punch Against High-Risk Prostate Cancer: Study

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  1. Brachytherapy Combination Packs a Punch Against High-Risk Prostate Cancer: Study Men with higher risk prostate cancers may find their options for treatment limited. When surgery is ineffective or deemed unsuitable, androgen deprivation therapy may be offered as a way to slow cancer’s growth and extend life. This treatment merely serves as a temporary solution, however, and does not provide a cure. Researchers are finding that blending this treatment with brachytherapy can provide an even greater life-extending benefit. A recent study looked at this topic to determine which might offer more positive results: hormone therapy combined with brachytherapy or hormone therapy coupled with external beam radiotherapy. Brachytherapy produced superior results.

  2. The study in question involved more than 20,000 patients who received androgen deprivation therapy with an EBRT boost. Another 4,500 patients received hormone therapy with a low-dose brachytherapy component. The five-year survival rate of the brachytherapy group was about 89 percent compared to the 83 percent revealed in the radiotherapy group. Brachytherapy involves the insertion of tiny radioactive pellets directly into a prostate cancer tumor. This form of radiation is considered highly targeted and serves to limit side effect risks by protecting nearby, healthy tissue from damage. Although not without its share of risks, the treatment is considered a superior option in many cases. While generally indicated for use in lower-risk cases, the recent study sheds light on the life-extending benefits it may provide men with higher risk forms of the disease. Men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer are urged to talk with their doctors about all treatment options. Should higher risk cancer be present, combining brachytherapy with androgen deprivation therapy may produce a more favorable outcome than other options. The best treatment advice, however, will come directly from a doctor with knowledge about the specific details related to a man’s unique case.

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