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.