Seed implants may benefit obese cancer patients

Obese patients suffering from prostate cancer may find brachytherapy, or seed implants, more beneficial that surgery, it has been asserted.

A study published in the August issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics - the official journal of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology - also recommended that such treatment could be more effective than external brain radiation.

In news that may be of interest to anti-aging physicians, men with a high body mass index may be more at risk from prostate-specific antigen failure after some treatments.

Such individuals may also have a higher chance of developing more aggressive types of cancer and encountering difficulties during therapy.

Author Anthony Zietman said: "Being overweight does not present any unique technical challenges for brachytherapy as it does for surgery and external beam."

In related news, the consumption of flavor enhancer salt monosodium glutamate has been identified as a possible cause of weight gain, Eurekalert notes.