What are the side effects of this treatment?

What do I need to know about my brachytherapy treatment?

This treatment delivers a high dose of radiation to the prostate which causes swelling. This has some short term side effects such as:

• Discomfort passing urine
• A need to urinate more often
• Slower urinary stream with a risk of urine blockage which may mean you will need a catheter (<2% risk)
• A feeling that you have not emptied your bowels
• Blood in the urine or semen
• Bruising or discoloration of the scrotum and penis

Other symptoms that you can have, and may need medication to help are:

• Impotence (the inability to have an erection)
• Decreased sexual satisfaction
• Lower volume of semen
• Diarrhea or pain with bowel movements
• Rectal bleeding
• Pain when urinating
• Incontinence (rare)