My Treatment Decision Is In: Single Seed Brachytherapy

@scottbeammeup
Thanks for your response!
I am still working on getting something pre-planned and agreed to concerning this issue of protecting the rectum.

It is difficult for me to process that my Oncologist "just doesn't like to do it".
Life is all about doing things that we don't like. I don't like having cancer but I have stepped up to do whatever is necessary regardless of my comfort level.

I would ask his MEDICAL reasoning for not "liking to do it." There could conceivably be a reason it wouldn't be good in your specific case. However, just saying "I don't like to do it" doesn't seem like an acceptable response.

I have asked about the Brachy as a monopoly!
I was disappointed when told that my Gleason 9 ruled that out.

Monotherapy is mostly for low grade 3 + 3 =6 or intermediate grade 3 + 4 = 7 cancer .

Absolutely.
I have specifically asked for the gel spacer.
I was told by a team member that my doctor doesn't like to use it.
I am going to find out if my Urologist can be involved with getting this done.
Everything you have said is absolutely true about these things.

Paul, I assume you are talking about the spacer for the brachytherapy ONLY?
My RO told me they cannot use the spacer for EBRT/salvage radiation because there is always the possibility that there are cancer cells closer to the rectum that the radiation won’t get.
That being the case, you can still have the spacer for the single high dose part of treatment but will have to wait for it to dissolve before you can have your other doses.
You really have to get this clarified!

It might be just how you wrote it but you may be misunderstanding the exact mechanics of HDR Brachytherapy. Here is my understanding with a little help from Google...

Using ultrasound, CT, or MRI, the doctor precisely places thin, hollow catheters into or near the tumor. The number and position of catheters depend on the tumor's size, shape, and location.

An 'afterloader' machine is connected to a computer that uses treatment planning software to calculate the exact dose and dwell time (how long the source stays in each position) for optimal treatment.

The machine drives a small, highly radioactive source (usually Iridium-192) , attached to a thin wire, through the catheters to pre-determined positions within the tumor. The source pauses at each position for a specific dwell time, delivering a calculated dose of radiation.

The source is then withdrawn into a shielded container in the machine. In some cases, the catheters might be left in place for a few days for multiple treatment sessions.

Good luck!

Your explanation is more accurate and informative than my original post.
This is why I posted this topic to learn from others.
I realized that my initial understanding of "single seed Brachytherapy" was only part of the story.
Specifically, the utilization of only one seed for short periods of time was completely unknown to me.
I was hoping that someone who has actually had this procedure performed, would be heard from in this forum. Apparently, that has not been the case.
More on this subject can be seen in my screenshots below.
My thanks to everyone!
PAUL

Paul, I had never heard of this but after all the posts from you and others, this treatment sounds really good for certain cases: a whopping dose of radiation precisely placed at the tumor without the negative effects of damaging the surrounding tissue, as it is not a beam or a wave or a pulse.
That killing dose followed by EBRT to ‘mop up’ the surrounding area along with ADT sounds about as comprehensive a treatment as you can get - even more-so than surgery IMO.
Best of luck with your treatment and please keep us posted on your progress!
Phil