Support Options
The diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer will most likely be an emotionally difficult experience. It can be a life altering event for many men and those closest to them.
The best advice we at IsoRay® can give you is to find out all you can about your cancer, learn about the treatment options available to you and, most importantly, get more than one opinion.
In addition, make sure your doctor is well trained and has a record of experience in the treatment you have chosen.
To assist you in learning more about prostate cancer contact the following resources:
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American Association for Cancer Research
www.aacr.org -
American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org / (800) ACS-2345 -
American Foundation for Urological Disease
www.afud.org / (800) 242-2383 -
National Cancer Institute
www.cancer.gov / (800) 4-CANCER -
Department of Defense Center for Prostate Disease Research (CPDR)
www.cpdr.org -
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
www.canceradvocacy.org / (301) 650-9127 -
Patient Advocate for Advanced Cancer Treatments (PAACT)
www.paactusa.org / (616) 453-1477 -
Us TOO
www.ustoo.com / (800) 80-US-TOO
Resources for patients looking at Brachytherapy: Clinical Guidelines
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2008): The NCCN Prostate Cancer Panel Members concluded that "permanent brachytherapy as monotherapy is indicated for patients with low-risk cancers. For intermediate-risk cancers consider combining brachytherapy with EBRT with or without neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy".
- European Organisation for Research and Treatment in Cancer (2000): The EORTC Radiotherapy Group, in conjunction with the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ESTRO) and the European Urological Association (EAU), recommend permanent brachytherapy for patients with low risk disease. Brachytherapy with external radiation boost can be considered in intermediate-risk patients.
- American College of Radiology (2008): The ACR concluded that high rates of biochemical control have been evident from brachytherapy as a monotherapeutic approach for patients with low-risk features. ACR appropriateness criteria suggest that, in patients with low-risk, clinically-localized disease, permanent, low-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy monotherapy is considered one of the preferred approaches (rating of 9 on a scale of 1-9).
- American Urological Association (2007): The AUA has concluded that interstitial brachytherapy is considered one of the viable monotherapy options for clinically localized, low-risk prostate cancer and there is no clear-cut evidence for the superiority of any one treatment.
- American Brachytherapy Society (2006): The ABS considers permanent LDR brachytherapy appropriate in patients with a life expectancy >5 years, clinical stage T1b-T2c (and selected T3), Gleason scores ranging from 2-10, PSA ≤50 ng/mL, and no pathologic evidence of pelvic lymph node involvement or distant metastases.
