A new method of treating prostate cancer is to be applied in the case of two patients at Queen Giovanna Hospital (ISUL) in Sofia on 10 December.

By inserting grains of iodine 125 isotope, the tumour in the gland is irradiated internally in the course of 6-8 weeks. The patients are discharged from hospital 48 hours later. A Bulgarian team, which has undergone training in Bratislava, is to perform the first surgery applying this method, which will be monitored by doctors from Slovakia.

“The method is safe and 96% effective,” said Academician Dr. Chavdar Slavov, head of the Urology and Andrology Clinic. “Bulgarians pay approximately EUR 15,000 to have this operation abroad, now it will be performed in Bulgaria, and they will pay nothing.”