Is LDR brachytherapy right for me?

LDR brachytherapy delivers radiation treatment in a very localised and targeted manner using tiny radioactive seeds of Iodine-125, each about the size of a grain of rice. These are inserted permanently into the prostate gland.

It is a minimally invasive treatment with significant quality of life benefits over alternative treatments such as surgery and externally delivered radiotherapy.

Seed brachytherapy benefits:

• Same-day or overnight procedure

• Low incidence of severe side-effects such as impaired sexual function and incontinence. [1] 

• Rapid return to normal activities

Brachytherapy has advanced significantly in recent years, with the advent of 4D brachytherapy technology and new evidence on the effectiveness of low dose rate treatments. Precision systems have also helped to minimise side effects and improve patient outcomes. To learn more out more about brachytherapy, please click to view  Dr Joseph Bucci – Radiation Oncologist, and Dr David Malouf – Urologist, discuss where brachytherapy fits in the prostate cancer journey.

Video Screen grab
A recognised and established Prostate Cancer treatment for over two decades. A study* of over 52,000 patients who had undergone different treatments for prostate cancer demonstrated that the progression-free survival was longest for Low dose-rate (LDR) Brachytherapy patients. Read more about the PCRSG study.

For more information, we encourage you to discuss LDR Brachytherapy with your oncologist (cancer expert), urologist (expert on the urinary system) or specialist nurse.

 *Prostate Cancer Results Study Group, available at (last accessed July 2016)

Brachytherapy side effects

Comparing side effects and benefits of LDR brachytherapy with different prostate cancer treatments.


Reproduced with permission from The Prostate Brachytherapy Centre, Guildford.

Prostate cancer treatment selector chart

This chart will help you to discuss and compare brachytherapy with other treatments suitable for you.


Reproduced with permission from The Prostate Brachytherapy Centre, Guildford

*Figures for comparison

Seek Further Information

To find the answers to any additional questions you might have, visit our LDR Brachytherapy FAQ page.

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