Brachytherapy and SpaceOAR

What is brachytherapy?

Prostate brachytherapy is a treatment for prostate cancer.

It involves placing radioactive seeds in or near tumors in the prostate, which work alone or in combination with external beam radiation.

This concentrated high dose of radiation targets the tumor while aiming to reduce radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.

Dr. Alex Hsi, a radiation oncologist specializing in brachytherapy, works in collaboration with his urology colleagues to treat prostate cancer patients at EvergreenHealth's Halvorson Cancer Center.

SpaceOAR: Reducing Side Effects of Brachytherapy

Dr. Hsi was one of the first radiation oncologists in the Puget Sound to pioneer the innovative prostate cancer treatment aid SpaceOAR, which reduces side effects to the rectum during brachytherapy treatment.

SpaceOAR is an ultrasound-guided injected liquid that forms into a solid gel once in place between the prostate and the rectum.

It acts as a temporary protective barrier and reduces about 70 percent of the rectal damage typically seen during brachytherapy.

After six months, the gel is naturally and safely reabsorbed into the patient's body.