Expelled seeds
are the permanent brachytherapy
titanium casings that have migrated out of the body
through the urethra. During urination or ejaculation
after the brachytherapy implant, prostate cancer patients
may pass seeds. Because of this chance of expelling
seeds, doctors encourage patients to wear condoms for
the first few weeks of sexual activity following the
minimally invasive procedure. Seeds that are expelled
through the urine and that are accidentally flushed
down the toilet do not pose a threat to water supplies.
A patient’s partner, however, may not appreciate
seeds that are expelled during sexual intercourse. Also,
immediately after the procedure, patients may experience
hematospermia, which
is blood in the urine.
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