Washington state doctors have implanted a new and more efficient type of radioactive seeds into the body of a prostate cancer patient. The newly developed implants contain cesium-131, which has a half-life of 9.7 days, compared to 60 days for iodine-125 seeds, a commonly used implant. Cs-131 delivers more than 90 percent of its total radiation dose in less than 33 days. "The treatment is over in one-sixth the time of iodine seeds and leaves the body 500 days faster," said one doctor. Due to the shorter duration of treatment with Cs-131, side effects such as incontinence, urinary urgency or pain may be lessened, and men who had good erectile function prior the implant should not experience any problems afterward, the researchers said. The procedure takes about an hour and does not require incisions or suturing. © Copyright 2004 by United Press International

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