C Das, a former government employee from Orissa, was diagnosed with prostate cancer two months ago. He and his family decided to follow a new form of treatment - prostate brachytherapy.

Dr Vivek Anand, consultant radiation oncologist at Hinduja Hospital in Mahim said: "This is the first time that we will use brachytherapy to treat prostate cancer in India.''

The procedure is used to treat cancer of the breast. In brachytherapy, the capsules containing radioactive iodine, better known as iodine seeds are injected in the cancer-hit parts of the body. The seeds give off radiation at a slow rate over a period of three or six months.

Dr Anand said that the number of seeds to be implanted depends on the volume of the prostate.. gland affected. The seeds, which are the size of a rice grain, release radiation only to the affected part of the prostate.

Brachytherapy cuts down the side-effects of radiation therapy. Since it is a non-invasive form of surgery, the recovery is faster.''

This treatment costs about 2.5 lakh. It is beneficial for patients in early stages of cancer.