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Treatment

About This Resource

Author: Waterloo-Wellington Regional Cancer Program

Revised: May 2025

PEM#: PEMWWRCP0011

For Radiation Treatment to Your Prostate

Contact Information

What is a TRUS & Gold Seed Procedure?

A Transrectal Ultrasound (TRUS) takes photos of the inside of your body using sound waves. An ultrasound probe is put inside of your rectum (bum) to take photos of your prostate.

Gold seeds are tiny markers placed in your prostate. Gold seeds are not a form of radiation. They help your Radiation Team find your prostate during each radiation treatment.

Before Your TRUS & Gold Seed Procedure

During Your TRUS & Gold Seed Procedure

During your TRUS and Gold Seed procedure you will:

  • Meet with a Radiation Oncologist
  • Change into a blue hospital gown
  • Lay down on a stretcher in a private room
  • Be asked to lay on your back with your legs in stirrups

What happens during the procedure?

  • You will be given a local anesthetic (drug used to numb a small part of your body) to your perineum (area between your scrotum and bum).
  • Lubricant will be rubbed onto the ultrasound probe. The probe is about the size and shape of a finger.
  • The Radiation Oncologist will put the probe into your rectum (bum). The probe stays there for about 10-15 minutes.
  • Once your prostate is found, 3 needles are placed through the perineum into the prostate. The needles will place 3 gold seeds in your prostate. The gold seeds will stay in your prostate.
  • The needles and probe are taken out.

In total, this procedure will take about 30 minutes.

After Your TRUS & Gold Seed Procedure

After your TRUS and Gold Seed procedure:

  • It is common to see a small amount of blood in your urine (pee) or semen
  • You will be booked for a CT Simulation appointment to plan your radiation treatment

If you get a fever, feel more pain than usual or have any other concerns call your health care team.

If you are feeling very unwell go to an Emergency Department near you.

CT Planning & Radiation Treatments

Your CT planning appointment will include taking 3D photos of your prostate. This helps your radiation oncologist create a plan to treat your cancer. After this, you will be booked for your radiation treatments. Your radiation oncologist will tell you how often you need treatment.

Photos of your prostate will be taken before every radiation treatment. It is important to make sure that your bladder is filled and your rectum is empty. The size of your bladder and rectum can affect the position of your prostate in your body. Your gold seeds will let the radiation therapist see where your prostate is each time you have radiation treatment.

The charts below will go through the steps you need to take before ct planning and each radiation treatment.

How to Prepare for CT Planning

How to Prepare for Radiation Treatments

Let your health care team know if you feel like you have to poo OR if you did not finish drinking your water in time. It means you may not be ready for treatment.

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Use this resource for your information only. It does not replace medical advice from your doctor or other healthcare professionals.

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.cancerwaterloowellington.ca