Around the world, prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in
men and is second to lung cancer for male related deaths. In the
Caribbean, our sister isle of Tobago is second only to Jamaica,
which holds the highest incidence of the disease worldwide.
Recent advances both in the form of early detection and
treatment now make it easier to detect and treat this cancer
before it becomes a life-threatening illness. The biggest
challenge is to get men over the age of 40 to take annual prostate
checks so as to ensure earlier detection is achieved.
PROSTATE BRACHYTHERAPY (Radioactive Seed Implant) has emerged as a very promising
and successful treatment for men diagnosed with localized or early prostate cancer.
Many clinical studies, in support of the success of Prostate Brachytherapy have
now been published with over 12 years of curative data.
On April 25, 2001 history was created when Trinidad and Tobago Prostate
Brachytherapy Limited (TTPB Ltd.) performed its first radioactive seed
implant in Trinidad and Tobago at the Gulf View Medical Centre. Leading
the team was Dr. Thomas G. Shanahan, radiation oncologist and recipient
of the ‘Best Doctor in America’ award and an expert in prostate cancer
at the Chicago Prostate Cancer Centre (CPCC).
In the initial stages of implementing its Brachytherapy Programme,
TTPB Ltd. invested a substantial amount of money on medical training
at the Chicago Prostate Cancer Centre, for the entire medical team which
comprised of six urologists, ultrasonographer, medical physicist and
radiologist. Here they were able to participate in actual brachytherapy
procedures under the supervision of other skilled and experienced
oncologists, ultrasonographers and radiologists at the Centre. Our medical
Physicist also spent time with an experienced dosimetrist at a clinical
site in Chicago where medical and applications’ training on the seed
planning programme was obtained.
Subsequent to training, TTPB Ltd. engaged in a proctorship programme with
the CPCC which facilitated the provision of hands-on patient selection
issues, pre-and post plan reviews and procedure approvals.
To date, TTPB Ltd. has performed well over 300 seed implants and the
procedures are done at multiple hospitals, both private and public.
During the proctorship, an experienced procedural nurse form Chicago
was brought in to help train the nursing staff. A safety officer is
present at all procedures and patients are periodically followed up
by TTPB staff through an annual patient survey.
AT TTPB Ltd, we strive to maintain the highest level of patient care
and comfort as we understand the needs of our patients: physical,
emotional and psychological.
We hope that this website has assisted many men and their families,
by way of education, support and most importantly in making the right
choice in selecting a treatment.
Finally, we offer a special ‘congratulations” to the many men who
recognize the importance of annual testing, and encourage other
men to follow…we extend a words of encouragement to the many
families or support systems of those men diagnosed with
prostate cancer.