"Eddie" <eddie@nospam.com> wrote in message

I had HDR done with what was described as a robot.  I was
knocked out for the procedure and never saw the machine
or how it was controlled.

In my treatment there were several stages.

1. Imaging to determine the location of the prostate and the
  tumors.

  This was done with endo-rectal MRI.

2. Treatment planning.

  The MRI data was fed into a computer which generated images.
  The radiation oncologist then worked with a computer program
  to produce a map of where the seeds should be planted for
  optimum coverage.

3. Implantation of treatment catheters.

  The catheters are thin plastic tubes inserted through the
  perineum into the prostate.  As I understand it, this was done
  by a surgeon working with his hands, but I'm not absolutely
  sure.  I will ask the next time I meet with the oncologist for
  followup.

4. Seed placement.

  This is done by the robot, or waldo, or whatever it is.  In my
  case, I was told it was a robot and that a computer moved the
  single seed into a treatment catheter, held it in position for
  a programmed amount of time, moved it a few millimeters, held
  it again, etc., eventually removing it and moving it to
  another treatment catheter.

  I was told that the seed itself (I think they only need one
  with HDR) is too radioactive to be handled by humans.

I didn't chose this procedure because I thought it was better
than other ways of doing it, though I was hoping it would be.  I
chose it partly because I trusted the doctors, and also partly
because it was an NIH clinical trial.  I work at NIH and get my
income from them and believe in what they're doing.  When I got
cancer myself I wanted to, as it were, put my money where my
mouth was and help out with the research.

So far, the treatment seems to be working.