September is Prostate Cancer Awareness month. At Spectrum, we have a team of radiation oncologists dedicated to helping patients who are diagnosed with prostate cancer. Spectrum radiation oncologists were the first physicians in Maine to perform HDR brachytherapy and Spectrum physicians are currently the only physicians in northern New England that offer HDR brachytherapy.
What is prostate cancer?
Cancer starts when cells in the body begin to grow out of control. Cells in nearly any part of the body can become cancer cells, and can then spread to other areas of the body. Prostate cancer begins when cells in the prostate gland start to grow out of control.
What is brachytherapy?
Brachytherapy is the delivery of internal radiation using a radioactive source that is computer guided remotely by the implantation of catheters or needles directly into the tumor or body cavity. This is often performed under sedation within the operating room. By delivering radiation internally, the dose delivered to a tumor can be escalated much higher than what would be possible using external x-ray-based radiation treatment.
To learn more about our radiation oncology team and the treatment options and services we provide to our patients, click here.
