How common is incontinence after brachytherapy?
A seed implant done by an experienced physician does not cause urinary incontinence. Few of our patients experience any problems, and those tend to be minor and short-lived. Some urinary irritation is commonly experienced, but in nearly all cases this problem resolves itself within one to three months. One exception is in patients who have had prior prostate surgery, such as transurethral resection (TURP) or have a TURP after brachytherapy. For patients who have had the TURP first, the risk of developing incontinence after brachytherapy is markedly reduced by modifying the way the seeds are placed in the prostate. A TURP after a seed implant generally results in a high rate of incontinence. At Southwest Oncology Centers, patients are advised not to submit to any prostate or rectal surgery without checking back with us.
