"Our findings reveal brachytherapy to be not only an effective treatment for prostate cancer but one that offers the patient sustained, symptomatic quality of life several years post-treatment," says Nelson Stone, MD, Clinical Professor of Urology and Radiation Oncology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
Dr. Stone and colleagues from Mount Sinai followed 255 men with prostate cancer treated with I-125 prostate brachytherapy. The follow up mean was 6.1 years (range 4-12). Urinary symptoms and potency data was prospectively collected. Comparisons were made between the pre-treatment, treatment related, dosimetry and post-treatment factors and their associations with quality of life quality of life changes. They found that of the 255 patients followed less than 3% reported minor stress incontinence, potency was preserved in 46% of those with moderate erectile dysfunction pre-implant compared to 70% for those with normal pre-implant function and less than 1% percent complained of bleeding beyond 4 years.
The research team concluded brachytherapy treatment preserves urinary, sexual and rectal quality of life when patients implanted with I-125 have continued, long-term follow-up.
Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer found in American men, other than skin cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be about 230,900 new cases of prostate cancer in the United States in the year 2004.
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York is internationally recognized for groundbreaking clinical and basic-science research, and innovative approaches to medical education. One indication of Mount Sinai's leadership in scientific investigation is its receipt last year of more than $214 million in public and private research funding, including over $154 million in NIH grants, placing it 22nd among the nation's 125 medical schools. Mount Sinai School of Medicine is also known for unique educational programs that not only prepare students to be highly skilled care givers, but help them to reach their maximum potential as caring, well-rounded people. Long dedicated to serving its community, the School extends its boundaries to improve health care delivery, educational opportunities and quality of life for residents of East Harlem and surrounding communities.