Cancer Services

Oncology Services

Full medical oncology review, diagnosis and treatment by medical and radiation oncologists
Administration of chemotherapy management and follow-up
24 hour patient helpline
Radiotherapy nursing care

Radiotherapy

The Mater Private Hospital’s state-of-the art Radiotherapy Department in Eccles Street Dublin includes two linear accelerators, a simulator unit, mould room facilities and two planning computer systems. Radiotherapy may be used on its own to treat patients or may also be used in conjunction with surgery/chemotherapy. Treatment is planned on an individual basis and is usually delivered as an out-patient service from Monday to Friday.

For oncology and radiotherapy patients attending the Mater Private Hospital we provide:

On-call service at weekends
On-call services between 5pm and 9am Monday to Friday
A 24 hour patient helpline

Radio-Active Seed Implantation for early stage Prostate Cancer

Radio-active seed implantation for early stage prostate cancer is an alternative to prostatectomy for patients with early stage disease. The Mater Private Hospital has pioneered this service in Ireland.

Described as ‘Radiotherapy from the inside’, Radioactive Seed Implantation involves the implanting of seeds into the prostate which give off very low doses of radiation over several months. It involves just 1 trip to the Mater Private Hospital, usually for a 2 night stay and the course of treatment then occurs ‘from the inside’. The alternative way of receiving treatment is ‘external beam radiotherapy’ which can involve attending the radiotherapy department for 5 days a week for up to 7 weeks.

Radioactive seed implantation is a procedure recommended as an alternative to prostatectomy for treatment of low grade early stage localised prostate cancer.

The Mater Private has pioneered this service being the first to introduce it to Ireland in 2002.
Dr Michael Maher has pioneered and oversees the delivery of this treatment, among many others, at the Mater Private.
Over 500 patients have already received this treatment.

There are a number of benefits of Radioactive Seed Implantation

The radiation does not travel very far in the body and so the healthy tissue around the prostate gland receives a much smaller dose than the prostate itself; meaning there is less potential to effect the bladder, anus, erectile tissue.
Urinary incontinence as a side-effect is extremely unlikely and impotence rates following the RASI are very much less common than with prostatectomy or external beam radiation.
The RASI procedure itself involves just one overnight stay in the hospital as opposed to the daily trips over several weeks for external beam.
It is not necessary to remove the seeds from the body once they wear out.

Prostate Cancer

In Ireland, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men, after skin cancer.
2758 cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed last year.
1 in 12 Irishmen will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime.
Although there are many men with this disease, most men do not die from it – Irish men are increasingly surviving prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men and its frequency is increasing. Partly this is because men are living longer, and prostate cancer has always been more common in older men.
50-65 yr olds should have regular prostate checks.
A small blood test is the first step towards diagnosis (PSA Prostate specific antigen tests).

Prostate Cancer Symptoms

The symptoms of prostate cancer include:

Passing urine more often, especially at night.
Pain or difficulty when passing urine.
Trouble starting or stopping the flow of urine.
The feeling of not having emptied your bladder.
Frequent pain in your lower back, hips or upper thighs.
Trouble having or keeping an erection.
Blood in your urine or sperm (very rare).

Treatment Options

Treatment options vary depending on the stage of the cancer and a number of other factors (Gleason score, PSA, General Health, Symptoms, Patient wishes)

Active Surveillance
Not all patients start on treatment. The patient is monitored with regular tests to track if the prostate cancer is developing. With any sign that the cancer is beginning to change, treatment can be started.

Treatment
A patient may have one or a combination of these therapies

Radiotherapy (radiotherapy delivered via external beams from a machine).
Radioactive Seed Implantation (radiotherapy delivered internal via seeds which are implanted into the prostate).
High Dose Rate Brachytherapy (high dose radiotherapy delivered internally via temporary catheters).
Prostatectomy (surgery to remove the prostate galnd).
Hormone Therapy (reducing the level of testosterone in the body).