Some of the side effects from radiation therapy (either external beam radiotherapy or prostate seed implant therapy) occur within days or weeks of the treatment and are called the acute side effects. Other side effects, known as late side effects, may not appear for six or more months after the treatment.

Most of the urinary side effects occur after a prostate seed implant and are a minor problem for the first few months after the seed implant. Other potential problems don't usually occur until six months or longer after the prostate seed implant. Some of the acute side effects of seed implant therapy are due to the swelling and bleeding within the prostate as a result of the trauma of the needle and seed placement that occurs during the operation.

In general, very few rectal side effects occur after prostate seed implants. However, sometimes side effects do occur. Some may occur shortly after the implant while others may not occur until many months later.

No, most people are comfortable after the procedure and usually an over-the-counter preparation such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen is all that is necessary to alleviate any discomfort that may occur. Avoid heavy lifting or strenuous activity for the first five days following seed implant.

Clinically referred to as brachytherapy, I have been performing radiation seed implant surgery for prostate cancer for almost 20 years. The current technique with ultrasound guidance is much more accurate than the technique of the 1970's and 1980's. Virtually any man with localized prostate cancer is a candidate for this procedure.

The medical devices commonly referred to as seeds are really small individual radioactive sources. They are 4.5 mm (3/16 in.) in length and 0.8 mm (1/32 in.) in diameter.

The main complications include bleeding and skin necrosis. Hemorrhagic Complications Bleeding is the main complication of oral anticoagulant therapy. In patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease treated with long-term oral anticoagulant therapy, the annual rate of major bleeding episodes ranged from 2 to 22% and fatal bleeding from 2 to 9%. These rates reflect differences in patient selection and in the definition of hemorrhagic complications. Major bleeding was most often intracranial.

According to Chan K. Chung, M.D., Chairman of the Radiation Oncology Department at Washington Adventist Hospital, there are practical and theoretical advantages over the other treatments: Radioactive seeds can deliver significantly higher radiation doses to the prostate gland without affecting adjacent normal tissue. This potentially provides better tumor control than external beam radiotherapy in selected cases.

Piles (hemorrhoids) are common in both men and women. By the age of 50 half of the people develop hemorrhoids to some extent. Although bleeding may occur in some cases, it does not cause any serious problem. But a person suffering from long standing bleeding piles (hemorrhoids) can have anemia. Women usually tend to develop piles (hemorrhoids) during pregnancy because of the pressure of the fetus and hormonal changes, but it is usually a temporary problem and disappears after childbirth.

The goal of interstitial seed therapy is to cure prostate cancer. With this in mind, the candidate should have a life expectancy of more than 7 to 10 years and no underlying illness that would interfere with the effectiveness of this therapy.*

Melanoma can occur on any part of the body. Primary tumors are most common on the trunk in men and on the lower extremity (thighs, legs, feet) in women. Studies have concluded that incisional biopsies of melanoma do not cause the tumor to spread locally or metastasize.

DOT is a strategy that helps to ensure patients take their medication properly and to thereby help prevent MDR TB from developing. The key component of this strategy is that someone, usually a health care worker visits the patient every day to help them take their medication properly.

The exact cause of prostate cancer is not known, but experts believe that your age and family history (genetics) may have something to do with your chances of getting the disease. Eating a high-fat diet may add to your chances of getting it.2 The prostate usually gets larger as you age. Having an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH) is very common among older men and does not increase your chances of developing prostate cancer.

Because the procedure in minimally invasive and requires no incisions, you can typically return to work and full activity within 3 to 4 days after the procedure.*

Prostate brachytherapy has been performed since the 1960s. Modern techniques were introduced in the early 1980s when Dr. Holm (in Denmark) developed the first transrectal ultrasound-guided transperineal prostate seed implants (TPPI). Physicians from the USA then learned this technique and began performing TPPI in the USA in the late 1980s. The procedure has undergone major technical innovations in the last five years.

About 5% of the time, neural therapy injections may provoke an increase in pain for a day or so. This usually means that the injection was not in the correct spot; however, a painful reaction typically indicates that the interference field is nearby.

Skin Burning. Serious burns from either UVA or sunlight (even through a window glass) can result if the recommended dosage of the drug and/or exposure schedules are exceeded.3,9 Nausea. Nausea may occur after taking the Oxsoralen-Ultra® (Methoxsalen Capsules, USP, 10mg) capsules. This may be avoided or lessened by taking the medication with milk or low-fat food.3,9 Itching. Itching commonly occurs as a result of light treatment. Numerous ointments are available to soothe mild itching.

Minimal side effects were reported in clinical studies, and those that were reported were similar to placebo (no treatment at all). In key clinical trials, the most common adverse events associated with treatment were headache (9.0%), infection (7.6%), flu syndrome (5.0%), and pain (4.3%). Yes. ARESTIN® used in combination with scaling and root planing (SRP) is more effective at fighting periodontal disease than SRP alone.

The answer depends on the size of the earthquake. Over the entire Earth, the number of earthquakes with magnitudes of 8 and greater is less than one each year. However, each year there are about 10 earthquakes of magnitude 7 or greater and 100 earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater. No matter where they occur, these earthquakes are all powerful enough to be recorded by all or mostly all of the world's sensitive seismograph stations, such as UTIG's station HKT.

Premcal can cause constipation and initial nausea if taken on an empty stomach. It is advised that Premcal be taken with meals. As with any calcium and vitamin D supplement, there is a potential for kidney stones. This is especially so if you have had a previous history of kidney stones and have been told of excessive calcium losses in the urine.