Iodine-125 seed implantation
Iodine-125 seed implantation is a form of brachytherapy. Small radioactive seeds, each about the size of a grain of rice, are placed inside or next to a tumour with needles guided by imaging. They release a planned dose of radiation over several months and stay in place as their radioactivity fades.
Who it may suit
- Selected early prostate cancers, where it is an established treatment worldwide
- Certain other solid tumours that Chinese centres treat this way, depending on the case
- Patients assessed as suitable by a radiation oncologist
What happens
- Review of scans and pathology
- Radiation planning to decide the number and position of the seeds
- Implantation under CT or ultrasound guidance, usually under local or general anaesthesia
- A check scan, then routine follow-up
About 1 week.
Prostate seed brachytherapy is available in Canada. Chinese centres use seeds for a wider range of tumours, where the evidence varies by indication.
Things to know. Possible bleeding, infection, seed movement and radiation injury to nearby organs. For a short time you may be advised to limit close contact with pregnant women and young children. It is not suitable for every cancer.
Why an introduction matters
Many of China’s leading specialists work in busy public hospitals without international patient offices. They rarely answer enquiries from abroad directly, and a file sent without an introduction often goes unread. Cases usually reach them through people they already know and trust. Our team on the ground makes that introduction, presents your case properly in Chinese, and follows up until you have an answer.
Some programmes, especially stem-cell and other cell treatments, are experimental. We introduce them only if you ask and your own specialist agrees, and we never describe them as cures.