Mira Keyes, MD, FRCPC, presented “Point-Counterpoint: Surgery vs. Brachytherapy for Intermediate and High-Risk Prostate Cancer – Brachytherapy” during the 30th Annual Perspectives in Urology: Point-Counterpoint, on March 10, 2023, at Humphreys Half Moon Inn, San Diego, California.
How to cite: Keyes, Mira. “Point-Counterpoint: Surgery vs. Brachytherapy for Intermediate and High-Risk Prostate Cancer – Brachytherapy.” March 10, 2023. Accessed Jan 2025. https://grandroundsinurology.com/point-counterpoint-surgery-vs-brachytherapy-for-intermediate-and-high-risk-prostate-cancer-brachytherapy/
Point-Counterpoint: Surgery vs. Brachytherapy for Intermediate and High-Risk Prostate Cancer – Brachytherapy – Summary
Mira Keyes, MD, FRCPC, presents an informative discussion on the benefits of brachytherapy compared to surgery and external beam radiation for prostate cancer treatment. She highlights the elusive outcomes and challenges of current treatments, emphasizing the importance of patients’ quality of life and cost considerations.
Dr. Keyes explores how brachytherapy outperforms surgery in terms of PSA (prostate-specific antigen) and metastasis-free survival outcomes in high-risk and unfavorable intermediate-risk patients. These findings suggest that brachytherapy can effectively target and control aggressive forms of prostate cancer.
Additionally, she addresses the misconception that brachytherapy is only suitable for certain risk groups, explaining its effectiveness across all risk stratifications. This broader applicability of brachytherapy allows more patients to benefit from this targeted treatment option, potentially reducing the need for invasive surgeries.
The presentation also delves into the topic of toxicity, showcasing the manageable side effects of brachytherapy compared to surgery. By minimizing damage to surrounding tissues, brachytherapy reduces the risk of complications such as urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction, which are more commonly associated with surgery.
This lecture is part of a Point-Counterpoint debate. Its opposing lecture is “Point-Counterpoint: Surgery vs. Brachytherapy for Intermediate and High-Risk Prostate Cancer – Surgery.”
About the 30th Annual Perspectives in Urology: Point Counterpoint conference: Presented by Program Chair and Grand Rounds in Urology Editor-in-Chief E. David Crawford, MD, this conference brought together leading experts in urology, medical oncology, and radiation oncology to discuss and debate the latest topics in genitourinary cancers, primarily prostate cancer and bladder cancer. This interactive conference offered topical lectures, pro/con debates, interesting-case presentations, interactive panel discussions, and interactive audience and faculty networking.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mira Keyes, MD, FACS, is a Clinical Professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and a radiation oncologist at the Vancouver Centre of the British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA). Dr. Keyes has a wide range of research interests, including Prostate Brachytherapy, Genito-Urinary Oncology, Breast Cancer, Postgraduate Medical Education, and Patient Communication.
Dr. Keyes received her MD at the University of Novi Sad in Yugoslavia, Serbia. Dr. Keyes then received her FRCPC Radiation Oncology from the Royal College of Physicians of Canada. Dr. Keyes completed her fellowship at the Royal College of Physicians of Canada for Radiation Oncology, in the Vancouver Cancer Center.
Dr. Mira Keyes is one of the founders of theBritish Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA)Provincial Prostate Brachytherapy Program (1998), past program Quality Assurance Head, and since 2006, a Provincial Program Head. Dr. Keyes is a former Residency Training Program Director in Radiation Oncology at UBC, and past Royal College examiner in Radiation Oncology. She is vice chair of the group developing Brachytherapy Diploma Certification with Royal College of Physicians and Surgeon of Canada, for the purpose of credentialing brachytherapy training process at a national level.
She is an elected board member for ABS (American Brachytherapy Society) and member of the editorial board for Brachytherapy Journal. She is a member of CARO (Canadian Association for Radiation Oncology), CBG (Canadian Brachytherapy Group) ASTRO and ESTRO. Dr. Keyes has been an invited speaker at many national and international conferences; she is an author of over fifty peer reviewed articles and recipient of many peer review grants. She has a large GU and Head and neck practice.
She is a recipient of several UBC awards: Mentorship Award (2018), Teaching Award (2017), CanMeds of Excellence Award (2014) and AD McKenzie UBC Department of Surgery Clinical Teaching Award 2017, in 2019, nominated for Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Mentorship Award. She is a CARO and BC Cancer wellness committee chair.
