Patients undergoing a seed implant require an understanding of basic radiation safety precautions. Over time, the seeds 'decay' and will no longer be radioactive, so any precautions are not life-long.

The radioactive energy of I-125 or Pd-103 is low. In fact, it is almost 25% of the energy used for a chest X-ray. However, since the seeds are inserted into the prostate, there is a small amount of radiation that may be at the skin of the patient in the area of the prostate. Therefore, any radiation exposure to others will require contact with the pelvis of the implanted patient. Further, the level of radiation is low and precautions are required only for very small children, less than 3 years of age. A patient may change diapers (at arms length) but not bottle feed an infant (lying in the lap).

There is no need to be quarantined and the patients clothes or bodily fluids can not contaminate anyone or anything.

I-125 (iodine) requires 5 months of precautions. Pd-103 (palladium) requires 2 months of precautions.

Patients may sleep, cuddle and have sex with their partners. They are encouraged to wear a condom for the first ejaculation.

We have performed measurements on implanted patients. These results are similar to a recent study from Seattle, Washington that showed a very low radiation dose at the skin.

Radiation Safety Parameters following Prostate Brachytherapy. By Smathers S et al. from the Department of Radiation Oncology, Un. Washington, Seattle, USA.

PURPOSE: To determine the degree and variability of radiation exposure to the general public from patients after I-125 or Pd-103 prostate brachytherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Radiation exposure measurements were made from 38 consecutive, unselected patients with stage T1 or T2 prostatic carcinoma who had transperineal I-125 or Pd-103 implants at the University of Washington in 1998. RESULTS: The exposure rate at the anterior skin surface following a I-125 implant ranged from 2.2 to 8.9 mrem/hour (average: 5.0). The exposure rate at the anterior skin surface from a Pd-103 implant ranged from 0.5 to 4.9 mrem/hour (average: 1.7). Based on the current Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulations the time required to reach the annual limit at the anterior skin surface would be 20 hours for I-125 and 59 hours for Pd-103. For exposure at the lateral skin surface, the times would exceed 500 hours for either isotope. CONCLUSIONS: This data suggest that patients need not be concerned about being a radiation risk to the general public following their procedure.

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1999 Sep 1;45(2):397-9.