Bach Mai General Hospital is the first hospital successfully treating two prostate cancer patients by using the radioactive seed implant technique. The patients suffering prostate cancer were discharged from the hospital on May 14 in healthy condition.

Nguyen Dinh L, 80, and Tran Tu H, 63, from Hanoi, are the first elderly patients treated successfully by the technique.

The success offers more hope for prostate cancer patients in the country as well as reduce treatment time and cost for patients.

Both patients said that that they were healthier than before.

Hospital Deputy Director Mai Trong Khoa said at a press conference that radioactive seed implant is a safe and effective method that helps to reduce treatment time and improves the life quality for patients in the early stages of prostate cancer.

This technique has been applied in the US and some European countries which proved to be effective in treating such patients. Around 97 percent of these patients live without the disease after the implantation. However, it is a complicated technique which requires cooperation between doctors in many fields.

Worse, prostate cancer is increasing in the country and  the rate of fatality is very high. Its infection ranks the tenth. It is estimated that the country has about 1,275 new cases and nearly 900 deaths by prostate cancer annually. Prostate cancer in males is at 3.4 per every 100,000 and the fatality rate is 2.4 per every 100,000.

Dr. Mai Trong Khoa said that the hospital will continue applying the technique for treating breast and liver cancers in order to improve patients' lives. Instead of going to foreign countries, patients can be treated in the country to save money.

Source: SGGP