Japanese Urologists to Come to Jacksonville to Observe Prostate Cancer Treatment by Local Physicians
Prostate Seed Implant Is Becoming More Prevalent in Japan

Jacksonville, Florida, May 21, 2008 -- Five Japanese urologists will visit Jacksonville on May 21 to observe Baptist Health radiation oncologist Mitchell Terk, MD, and urologist Douglas Swartz, MD, performing brachytherapy, or prostate seed implant procedures, to treat prostate cancer. Radiation oncologists and urologists with Baptist Health are among the most experienced in the nation in prostate seed implants, having treated thousands of men with this procedure.

The Japanese physicians are in Florida for the annual meeting of the American Urological Association in Orlando, and will travel to Jacksonville that same day for the brachytherapy procedures at Baptist Medical Center Downtown.

Brachytherapy is a form of radiation treatment in which tiny pellets containing radioactive material are implanted directly into the tumor-containing organ, such as the prostate. This form of radiation therapy delivers high doses of radiation to the prostate while limiting exposure to the surrounding critical tissues. This is important because it reduces the risk of side effects. Brachytherapy is done under spinal or general anesthesia.

"The benefits of prostate seed implant are that it is an outpatient procedure that is minimally invasive and it takes less than an hour to perform," says Dr. Terk, a world-recognized expert on prostate seed implant who has trained radiation oncologists and urologists in Japan, Europe and Africa on the procedure. "The risk of incontinence and sexual dysfunction are lower than with other treatment options such as radical prostatectomy and external-beam radiation therapy. This procedure is starting to become more popular in Japan."

"When done correctly, prostate seed implant has a very high cure rate that is not matched by any other procedure," says Dr. Swartz. "Dr. Terk performs the largest volume of these procedures in the Southeast and his results are extraordinary because of his expertise."