Prostate Cancer Treatment Center
In July 2009, John Sylvester and Peter Grimm, as well as nursing and technical staff, left the Seattle Prostate Institute (SPI) in downtown Seattle to form Prostate Cancer Center Seattle; a cancer center dedicated to improving seed implantation techniques and located in a convenient area of North Seattle. In February of 2010, they changed their name to Prostate Cancer Treatment Center to better align with the many clinics and hospitals to which they provide service. SPI was created in 1997 by Peter Grimm and John Sylvester on Seattle’s Swedish Medical Center campus. Dr. John Blasko joined the SPI team in 1998 after several years at the University of Washington and subsequently retired in 2007. At SPI, Drs. Grimm, Sylvester and Blasko developed training programs, annual meetings and clinical research which are now being carried on at PCTC.
Individual Care
The Prostate Cancer Treatment Center is devoted to two ideals: taking great care of the patient and great care of each other. To this end we are continuing to search for new and better techniques to treat patients. Our goal is simple: improve the results of treatment and minimize the side effects in the process.
Clinical Research
At PCTC all patients are offered the latest protocols for treatment. These protocols involve assessing the current technology and treatment regimens with newer technology and regimens. PCTC has several ongoing treatment protocols that may be of value to you.
Advanced Prostate Cancer Technology
Prostate Cancer Treatment Center physicians have been pioneers in the development of the newest technologies in Brachytherapy.
These include:
Rapid Strand (Oncura)
Which are seeds encased in an absorbable material allowing the radioactive seeds to be connected, preventing seed migration and improving post implant dose distribution.
Source Link (Bard)
A small absorbable link between seeds that connects the seeds while minimizing seed migration and improving dose distribution.
Thin Strand (Oncura)
Thin Strands have a smaller diameter seed, similar to the Rapid Strand, which are also connected. Current studies are ongoing to determine whether this smaller diameter seed will result in less trauma pain and improve potency.
Brachytherapy Condom (CIVCO Brachytherapy standoff)
This condom is custom made for the probe used during the implant and volume study procedure. It is designed to improve the image and therefore improve the seed placement.
Best Treatment Outcomes
With all treatments, the best treatment for each patient must be individualized. While most patients are candidates for seed implantation alone or a combination of seed and external beam radiation, some are not suitable candidates. External beam radiation and surgery should be considered as possible alternatives for all patients and their likely outcomes and side effects understood. At PCTC, patients are given the latest results of long term studies for all these treatment modalities to help them determine a treatment that is best for them.
Quality of Life
Each treatment option has a slightly different profile in terms of side effects. In addition, theses side effects can vary from institution and physician. The quality of life is an important aspect of treatment outcome. At PCTC each patient receives a full explanation of the effects on bowel, urinary and sexual function based on the experience we have had performing this procedure for over 7,000 patients over the past 25 years. As most patients with prostate cancer will lead normal lives without recurrence, our research efforts at PCTC focus on technical improvements and therapeutic interventions that help patients maintain a high quality of life after treatment. The studies we conduct provide information that benefits each new patient’s experience.