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Gil Lederman on Prostate Cancer Seeds Plus Radiosurgery
Our goal for each man with localized and locally advanced prostate cancer is cure. Now in the second decade with 200,000 prostate seeds placed into cancerous prostates, our experienced physicians approach each person with prostate cancer individually in an effort to eradicate the cancer. Having tremendous experience and published data means much! Each man is unique and each patient benefits from what we believe is a meticulous program and treatment, yet it’s not for everyone - it’s best to discuss your individual situation and needs with our physicians.

Our data – and in particular our comparison data – should allow most anyone perusing this article to appreciate the importance of advances made by physicians from Radiosurgery New York. Here is an explanation of our techniques, comparison data with essentially all major competing forms of treatment. Radiosurgery New York’s physicians have invested great energies in developing an innovative, nearly non-invasive, effective treatment using human-led computer-aided radiation seed implantation placed under fluoroscopic, ultrasonic and computer guidance, most commonly followed by body radiosurgery – technology well beyond conformal using stereotactic fiducials, IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy), the latest technology– to help assure the highest likelihood of freedom from prostate cancer recurrence. We’re one of the few centers using Palladium seeds exclusively – for reasons solely related to patient care!

The precision radiation (stereotactic body radiosurgery) incorporates intensity modulation inverse planning to the prostate to minimize adverse effects on healthy tissue like the adjacent bladder and rectum. Our physicians pioneered its use with the stereotactic body frame. Most importantly are our results that you should compare to other major centers. This unique treatment pioneered for localized prostate cancer helps diminish unwanted effects commonly associated with other treatments. This article will explore how our treatments are different resulting in improved outcome and quality of life. Men with prostate cancer justifiably focus on a few crucial issues: high success rates, brevity of treatment, and preciseness of treatment delivery, avoidance of radical prostatectomy surgery and its hospitalization, and possible maintenance of urinary and sexual function.

Prostate seed implantation (brachytherapy) today in our hands is vastly different than its historic use. That’s because treatment techniques, developed and implemented by our doctors, cut no corners to produce the optimal results. With our in-the-operating room planning computers, we tailor the seed implantation to the exact dimensions of the prostate at the time of implant! Another point of difference!

New technology has revolutionized our treatment options dramatically thus improving outcome often when combined with limited course precision-directed stereotactic radiation - called body radiosurgery. Physicians who lead Radiosurgery New York introduced body stereotactic radiosurgery –precise non-invasive radiation technology - to the Western Hemisphere. It plays an important role in our success and safety. Our technology is well beyond – and more sophisticated – than conformal radiation. Our physicians are probably the most experienced using body radiosurgery worldwide. One aspect of body radiosurgery is inverse planning intensity-modulated radiation treatment. Intensity-modulated inverse planning is new technology to aid in the precise delivery of radiation. Yet it is only part of our complex, integrated program. `

All together, it’s an unparalleled prostate cancer program. The radical prostatectomy had been the so-called standard urologists used to treat localized prostate carcinoma. There are unfortunately many unwanted side effects and associations with radical prostatectomy like recurrence of cancer, operative difficulties, sexual and urinary dysfunction. It is for those reasons that alternatives have been eagerly sought. New approaches and technology opened up the field to improved treatment through more exact sequential delivery of higher dose radiation through Palladium seed implantation plus body radiosurgery - the key elements. In our hands this most commonly means full dose Palladium seeds combined with non-invasive stereotactic body radiosurgery. Of course, the treatment you receive is the treatment you desire and choose.

Not every center uses the same dose of seeds. Yet many men aren’t prepared to ask their physician a pertinent question, "What will my dose be?" New data shows that using Palladium seeds, body radiosurgery and other techniques instituted exclusively by our doctors at Radiosurgery New York may improve results. Palladium seeds mean a shorter radiation half-life, yet more intense radiation with fewer observed side effects!! There’s more safety for your family and colleagues as well with Palladium seeds. Age should not – by itself – be the deciding factor. Our results with seed implant/limited radiation show equal benefit for men less than 65 years compared to those 65 and older. Our youngest patient was 43 years of age and our oldest was 83 at the time of treatment. Data shows in each age subgroup, equal benefit to our approach. In general, radical prostatectomy is not performed on men older than 70 due to its morbidity and mortality. We do not select patients by age since the success rate is equally high across the spectrum. Unlike surgery, we do not have any age cut-off. Younger men are eager to gain the potential benefits of our approach, as well, for the same reasons –trying to be cancer-free and maintain quality of life. After being informed of risks, benefits and alternatives, each patient decides for himself the best treatment.

A major obstacle for many is determining the best approach. Perplexing are recurrence rates after radical prostatectomy. Many have been inappropriately led to believe that if the cancerous prostate gland is removed then there is no risk of recurrence. This is unfortunately very wrong. The data vividly reveals this.
There are many theories about cancer recurrence after prostatectomy. Possible reasons include the surgeon cutting through or inadvertently spreading cancer cells - leaving cancer cells in the patient or cancer spread prior to surgery. That our data is superior to surgical results suggest the operation is the culprit. A study from a major medical school has shown that surgery likely spreads prostate cancer cells. Autopsy data after radical prostatectomy reveals recurrent cancer in the pelvis in 50%. This article discusses the benefits in brief.

Article Source: http://www.ezarticles.info

Please visit our before and after visual Body Radiosurgery gallery. For more information about non-invasive cancer treatment , please visit www.rsny.org/ or email Dr. Gil Lederman at Gil.Lederman@RSNY.ORG

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