New Prostate Cancer Treatment Brachytherapy Introduced

Permanent brachytherapy is often performed for prostate cancer using "seeds" -
small radioactive rods implanted directly into the tumour.

There is a new type of radiation treatment that is being used to treat prostate cancer. Brachytherapy is being heralded as a step forward in the treatment of prostate cancer because of the lower risk for patients developing complications such as impotence and incontinence. However, it is important to note that any man who has developed incontinence symptoms as a result of radiation treatment will be able to choose from a wide variety of incontinence products to help him manage the condition. These incontinence supplies are available on sites that sell adult incontinence products.

Brachytherapy is the direct application of radioactive material to the tumor site within the prostate. The use of ultrasound allows the doctor to direct the brachytherapy seeds which are made from radioactive iodine directly to where the tumor is located. This is done by the use of special needles. Once the grains are in direct contact with the tumor the needles are pulled out and the radioactive grains are left behind. The main advantage of this is that the radiation does not have to pass through the healthy tissue in order to reach the prostate. This helps to reduce the chances of collateral damage when the radiation is being done. Because the radiation has been delivered directly to the tissue in the prostate it reduces the necessary dose of radiation which in turns protects the nearby organs. The patient who has this procedure done can generally leave the hospital the next day and most men report that they have returned to normal within the next couple of weeks.

Watch this video.  How to choose the right incontinence product. 

Even though brachytherapy lowers the risk of the patient developing incontinence there is a still a chance that it can happen. If the patient does develop incontinence there are numerous types of incontinence products that can be used. For men who are only experiencing light incontinence they may want to use incontinence pads or guards. These incontinence pads or guards are developed from the same type of material that women’s incontinence pads are made from but they are shaped to give protection where men need it most. Incontinence pads are generally flat pads that attach with an adhesive backing to normal underwear or incontinence underwear. Incontinence guards are shaped pads that go in the front of the underwear to give protection up front. To check out male incontinence pads and guards from several leading brands including: Abena, Attends, Depend, Prevail and Tena please click on http://caregiverpartnership.com/category/23//.

For men who are experiencing more moderate incontinence they may want to choose an incontinence undergarment. Incontinence undergarments come in a variety of styles (boxer or brief), different absorbency levels, and types. It is important to understand that it can take some trial and error to determine the right incontinence product or combination of incontinence supplies that work best for your needs. Many men choose to wear a washable incontinence undergarment with a disposable incontinence pad that can be changed out when it becomes soiled. This can be a both a functional and affordable option. The Depend adult diaper line offers a wide variety of incontinence products for men. To check them out please click on http://caregiverpartnership.com/landing/depend/.

Brachytherapy offers new hope and better treatment for men who are dealing with prostate cancer. However, despite the lowered risk of incontinence it can still happen. If you are a patient who has received brachytherapy and now has incontinence it is important to know that there is a wide variety of incontinence supplies to help you manage this issue. To find out more about all aspects of incontinence please visit http://caregiverpartnership.com/landing/incontinence.

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About The CareGiver Partnership. The CareGiver Partnership helps caregivers and their loved ones with answers to their caregiving questions, including information about home health care products and supplies, from our Wisconsin-based team of Product Specialists who are all current or former caregivers. The company’s Web site provides the largest online library of resources on subjects most important to caregivers — from arthritis to assisted living, and Parkinson’s to prostate cancer — as well as access to more than 3,000 home care products for incontinence, skin care, mobility, home safety and daily living aids. The CareGiver Partnership was founded in 2004 by Lynn Wilson of Neenah, Wisc. Visit http://www.caregiverpartnership.com to learn more or call 1-800-985-1353.

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