Discover if LDR brachytherapy is right for you. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Bhatnagar at 714-912-0020 or contact here >
Prostate Cancer Treatments
Prostate Cancer Institute of California delivers the results you need to treat prostate cancer at the source.
Our prostate cancer treatment process starts with a meeting with Dr. Ajay Bhatnagar, a highly-skilled radiation oncologist who specializes in prostate brachytherapy, to explain procedure details, benefits, and possible risks. Together with you and your referring urologist, we will decide if prostate brachytherapy is the best treatment for you.
LDR Brachytheraphy
If it is determined you are a good candidate for low-dose rate brachytherapy, Dr. Bhatnagar will perform the approximate one-hour procedure at a local surgery center within Orange County. You will be under general anesthesia to ensure you do not feel any pain.
During surgery, radioactive seeds are placed permanently in the prostate gland, where they slowly release radiation over several months to kill cancer at its source. The placement of the seeds ensures cancer cells receive the most radiation while minimizing the impact on nearby healthy tissue.
Once the seeds are placed in your body, you'll spend some time in the recovery area before going home the same day. Most men resume normal activities shortly thereafter. Low Dose Rate Brachytherapy has the same cure rate as other treatments, but less side effects and has shown the best rates of erectile function preservation.
Please contact us directly to discuss the benefits and risks with you.
Focal Brachytheraphy
Focal brachytherapy is a type of radiation treatment. Specifically, the treatment involves using implantable radioactive “seeds” to treat only the cancerous portion of the prostate gland rather than the entire prostate gland which results in significantly less side effects. Dr. Bhatnagar inserts the seeds into strategic areas in your prostate gland. Once placed, the seeds emit radiation that kills the cancer cells.
Since the seeds are small and emit only a certain amount of radiation, treatment doesn’t harm the rest of your body. Dr. Bhatnagar incorporates advanced imaging modalities (such as MRI, PSMA-PET scan) into his brachytherapy planning process to maximize precision of targeting the cancerous region.
To qualify for focal brachytherapy, you need to have localized prostate cancer. If your cancer has metastasized (spread to other parts of your body), Dr. Bhatnagar makes other recommendations or refers you to another oncologist.
Please contact us directly to discuss the benefits and risks with you.
Rectal Spacing
If you qualify for focal brachytherapy, you must undergo rectal spacing first. Rectal spacing reduces the risk of radiation damage and improves the treatment’s accuracy. Dr. Bhatnagar inserts a rectal spacer during the same procedure. A rectal spacer is a gel placed between your prostate gland and rectum. It protects your rectum from radiation and relieves uncomfortable side effects.
Rectal spacers stay in place for about three months. After that time, the gel dissolves and exits your body in your urine. After rectal spacing, it’s normal to feel some fullness or pressure in your rectum. Though uncomfortable, the sensation won’t affect your ability to pass bowel movements. Avoid putting anything into your rectum for at least three months unless Dr. Bhatnagar advises otherwise.
​
At the Prostate Cancer Institute of California in Fountain Hills, California, cancer treatment specialist Ajay Bhatnagar, MD, completes rectal spacing on an outpatient basis.
Please contact us directly to discuss the benefits and risks with you.
