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Once a prostate cancer diagnosis has been made, your consultant works to determine the extent of the cancer. If you have been diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, immediate treatment may not be necessary as low-grade prostate cancer may not need treatment right away. Regular follow-up blood tests, rectal exams and prostate biopsies may be performed to monitor progression of your cancer. If tests show your cancer is progressing, you may opt for a prostate cancer treatment.

Brachytherapy Treatment (Coming Soon)

Kingsbridge Prostate Clinic is delighted to be able to offer Low Dose Radiation (LDR) Brachytherapy, a revolutionary prostate cancer treatment.

LDR Brachytherapy is a type of radiation therapy used to treat cancer. It places radioactive sources inside the patient to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.

Also known as ‘seed therapy’, it involves the precise and permanent implantation of radioactive ‘seeds’ into the prostate using specially designed needles. These needles will then be removed and the seeds left behind.

Benefits include:

  • Demonstrated efficacy
  • Precision – Radiation dose is delivered directly to target tumour area
  • Lowest risk of erectile dysfunction
  • Minimally invasive
  • Short recovery time

The procedure is carried out in 2 steps:

  • 1 A prostate volume study that will take 10 minutes
  • 2 2–4 weeks later, a Brachytherapy implant under anaesthetic that will take 30 minutes.

Who is suitable for Brachytherapy?

Depending on the size of your prostate gland, your health and your urinary symptoms the urologist may refer you to our oncologists to determine if Brachytherapy is a good treatment option. If a patient is not suitable for this treatment, they will be advised on alternative options available and will be referred in the right direction.

SpaceOAR Hydrogel

Optional treatment prior to
Radiotherapy or Brachytherapy

SpaceOAR Hydrogel has been designed to help reduce the radiation dose delivered to the rectum during prostate cancer radiation treatments by providing space between the rectum and the prostate. SpaceOar Hydrogel has been clinically shown to protect against the drop in a patient’s reported quality of life as a result of radiation therapy, by minimizing urinary, sexual and bowel side effects.

Is it Safe?

SpaceOAR Hydrogel intends to temporarily position the anterior rectal wall away from the prostate during radiotherapy for prostate cancer, reducing the radiation dose delivered to the anterior rectum.

The SpaceOAR Hydrogel is composed of biodegradable material and maintains space for the entire course of prostate radiotherapy treatment and is completely absorbed by the patient’s body over time.

What are the risks?

As with any medical treatment, there are some risks involved with the use of SpaceOAR Hydrogel. These will be discussed with the patient at their consultation before any decisions are made.

Radical
Prostatectomy

Radical prostatectomy is an operation to remove the prostate gland and tissues surrounding it. This usually includes the seminal vesicles and some nearby lymph nodes. Radical prostatectomy can cure prostate cancer in men whose cancer is limited to the prostate.

The procedure is associated with a limited risk of side effects, and major complications are very rare. All side effects will be discussed prior to surgery.

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy aims to destroy prostate cancer cells without causing too much damage to healthy cells. Radiotherapy treats the whole prostate. The treatment itself is painless but it can cause side effects that may cause you problems.

If your prostate cancer is localised or locally advanced, or if you have recurrent prostate cancer, radiotherapy will aim to get rid of the cancer completely.
Radiotherapy is not a treatment currently available at Kingsbridge Private Hospital, however if this treatment is advised, you will be referred to the Belfast City Hospital Site.