Some important things to remember
Contacts
Bear in mind that, though your prostate carries radioactive
seeds, you have not become radioactive yourself. You can stay at
home with your family, move around, travel or meet other people.
You are not a danger to others.
Returning to Normal Activity
You should feel well and be able to return to normal activities
within 3 days.
Going back to work
The length of time you stay home depends on the amount of
physical effort your work requires. Most men return to work within
3-5 days. Contact your GP for a sick certificate if you need
one.
Driving
Most men are able to drive a car within three -five days. Some
men even drive themselves home after seed implants.
Sexual intercourse
Should be avoided for the first 2 weeks after the implant.
Thereafter, you should use a condom for a further three - six
months. Make sure you ask your specialist when sexual intercourse
can be resumed.
Discharge Medications
Before going home, you may be given oral pain medication and
stool softeners. These should be taken as prescribed.
Other treatments
Within the first two years after brachytherapy, treatment for
other unrelated medical problems in your pelvic, abdominal or
rectal area should, perhaps, be avoided. Your brachytherapy
specialist will be able to guide you on the advisability of
treatments that other specialists may want to offer you.
Tips to help you
You may not experience any side effects for several days until
the radiation from the seeds begins to take effect. You might
experience mild discomfort at the sites of the needle punctures.
You can use a simple painkiller such as Paracetamol to relieve
this, but avoid Aspirin.
Aspirin thins the blood and so might make any bruising or
bleeding worse. You may also see some bruising near your scrotum or
below it, which can spread into your upper thighs. This will
disappear within a week or two. Your urine may be blood stained for
a few days afterwards.