Re: Radioactive "seed" treatment no threat I-125 only??

[RadiumProj@cs.com]

Radsafe:

Just to clarify that indeed I-125 is not the only seed used in brachytherapy 
for prostate cancer. Pd-103 seeds have been used for treating prostate cancer 
for many years, and are now being used and researched for a number of other 
brachytherapy applications including liver cancer.  For example, there is an 
Atlanta based company, Theragenics [TGX  - NYSE ]  which is producing and 
marketing Pd-103 seeds for medical use. I believe there are other companies 
making Pd-103 as well. The Theragenics website is:

http://www.theragenics.com

Theragenics has about 160 employees and has just added additional cyclotrons 
for Pd-103 production. A description of their product follows: 
  
"Theragenics develops and manufactures therapeutic radiological devices used 
to treat cancer. The company's products are used in brachytherapy, in which a 
physician introduces short-range, short-lived radioactive material directly 
into cancerous tissues, thereby concentrating the impact of the radiation on 
the tissue to be destroyed while limiting the effect on surrounding healthy 
tissues. The company's TheraSeed product is a radioactive implant used to 
treat localized tumors. Its TheraSphere product is used to treat liver 
cancer. Theragenics's products are most effective on encapsulated, confined 
tumors."

Recent mid to long term [I recollect 8 years after treatment] studies have 
shown Pd-103 seeds to be very effective in treating prostate cancer without 
the negative side effects of surgery or external radiation therapy.

Having had two relatives who were treated recently for prostate cancer by 
surgery, and knowing of the significant complications resulting, I would 
consider seed treatment the method of choice if at all appropriate for the 
stage of prostate cancer being treated. Treatment with Pd-103 is an 
outpatient procedure that allows the individual to avoid hospitalization, 
risks of surgery, and a relatively long period of recuperation and side 
effects on sexual and urinary function commonly present with surgery.

It seems that many physicians have a very strong bias against brachytherarpy 
prostate treatment. In the case of both my relatives who were treated in the 
past year, the physicians being consulted gave erroneous information about 
the supposed shortcomings of seed therapy vs. their recommending surgery.

Stewart Farber
Public Health Sciences
172 Old Orchard Way
Warren, VT 05674
[802] 496-3356
email: radiumproj@cs.com
=====
In a message dated 11/29/00 4:01:08 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
jmiddelkoop@zonnet.nl writes:

> Subj:  Re: Radioactive "seed" treatment no threat to others- ISOTOPE??

>  To:  radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu (Multiple recipients of list)
>  
>  Normally the seeds contain I-125. I have never heard of any other nuclides
>  used for this application
>  
>  Jetty Middelkoop
>  jmiddelkoop@zonnet.nl
>  
>  
************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html