Brachytherapy with seeds for prostate cancer
Welcome to our institute!
Our department is one of the largest centers for brachytherapy for prostate cancer in Germany.
Since 2002, we have been successfully performing this optimized, state-of-the-art and guideline-based therapy of localized, focused interstitial radiotherapy (LDR-brachytherapy or permanent seedimplantation) for localized prostate cancer using state-of-the-art technology, always based on internationally valid and proven standards.
Our center in Munich offers you the greatest possible competence and expertise based on many years of institutional experience with the goal of a rapid recovery and personal, individual care.
On the following pages you will learn more about this modern therapy procedure and our center.
Your team for brachytherapy – seed implantation
Urology Clinic Munich Planegg
brachytherapie@ukmp.de
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a malignant tumour in the male prostate gland. The prostate is a muscular, walnut-shaped gland about four centimetres in size. It sits directly below the bladder and surrounds the urethra in a ring. Its main function is to produce fluid to transport sperm. A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is also produced in the prostate gland. It plays a key role in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Prostate carcinoma is the most common cancer in men in Germany. Every year, more than 60,000 new cases are diagnosed by urologists in Germany. More screening leads to more early diagnoses. Urologists can therefore provide therapies with good chances of cure. Significant positive developments have taken place in radiotherapy in particular.
Brachytherapy with seeds
Brachytherapy for prostate cancer is a modern form of radiation therapy. It is characterised by its targeted application directly to the tumour. In LDR brachytherapy, radioactive beams the size of a grain of rice are inserted into the prostate. LDR stands for Low-Dose-Rate, i.e. the "seeds" destroy the malignant cancerous tumour with their weak radiation. At the same time, the precise treatment spares the surrounding healthy tissue. For prostate cancer with up to medium risk, brachytherapy is very effective with a cure rate of over 94%.
Here we present the advantages, application and aftercare of LDR brachytherapy in detail. Furthermore, we explain for which patients this therapy is particularly suitable.