Should someone with a prostate cancer seed implant stay away from pregnant women?

Dear Reader, 

When it comes to treatment for prostate cancer, a form of radiation therapy known as brachytherapy is typically used. This therapy uses small radioactive seeds that are placed and remain in the prostate to release radiation slowly over time. Because of this, health care providers may suggest limiting close contact with children or pregnant people for a brief period of time. For more information, read on to learn about brachytherapy, the different types of prostate brachytherapy, and the precautions patients may take.  

What is brachytherapy? 

In general, brachytherapy is a type of radiation treatment that's used for a range of cancers, including breast, eye, prostate, and gynecological cancers. Brachytherapy brings the treatment up close and personal, placing tiny radioactive seeds, capsules, or implants inside or near a tumor. The implants release radiation over several months. Since the radiation is targeted, it can shrink the tumors until it’s destroyed, while nearby healthy tissues are still protected from radiation. 

How is brachytherapy used to treat prostate cancer?  

When treating prostate cancer specifically with brachytherapy, small radioactive seeds are placed inside the prostate to target cancer cells. Depending on the stage of prostate cancer, brachytherapy might be the only treatment that’s needed. However, for bigger tumors or cancers with a greater risk of spreading, brachytherapy is often paired with treatments such as external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) or hormone therapy. 

What are the different types of brachytherapy for prostate cancer? 

Prostate brachytherapy can be administered using two approaches: high-dose rate (HDR) or low-dose rate (LDR).  

HDR brachytherapy is a temporary treatment where a health care provider places radioactive sources into the prostate gland for several minutes before being removed. When radioactive sources are inside, they deliver a strong dose of radiation during that short time. Depending on the treatment plan, this process may be repeated over several sessions.  

In contrast, LDR brachytherapy takes more of a slow and steady strategy. In this approach, radioactive seeds are implanted into the prostate and stay in place. These seeds steadily release lower levels of radiation over several months, working until the radiation naturally fades away.  

How do different types of brachytherapy affect radiation exposure to other people? 

For HDR brachytherapy, there’s no need for special precautions after treatment. Since the radioactive source is removed right after each session, patients aren’t considered radioactive. So, it’s safe to be close to other people.  

With LDR brachytherapy, however, the situation is different. Since radioactive seeds remain in the body, there might be a low level of radiation for a period of time. To be on the safe side, health care providers may recommend avoiding long, close contact with children or pregnant people. In some cases, it’s often suggested that a child or pregnant person sits on a patient’s lap for no more than about 20 minutes at a time during the first two months after the procedure. That said, each patient’s situation is unique. A health care provider can give specific instructions tailored to individual needs.  

Are there other precautions that should be taken when receiving brachytherapy? 

For LDR brachytherapy, a health care provider may recommend additional precautions during sexual activity, such as using a condom. While the risk is very low, there’s a small chance that one of the radioactive seeds placed in the prostate can be released in semen during ejaculation. So, wearing a condom can prevent a seed from being passed to a partner.  

Overall, when it comes to LDR brachytherapy, the risks to others can be very low. So, just to be on the safe side, health care providers often recommend a few simple precautions in avoiding close contact to protect others.  

Hope this satiated the seed of curiosity,