Fiducial markers are tiny metal objects (about the size of a grain of rice). They help your doctor line up the beams of radiation to make sure your radiation therapy is delivered exactly the same way each time. This helps them to target your tumor and avoid your healthy tissue.
Before Your Procedure
Tell your doctor if you:
Take medication to thin your blood (anticoagulants).
Take steroids (such as prednisone).
Take any other medications, including herbal or dietary supplements or natural or home remedies.
Have taken any antibiotics in the past 3 months.
The Day of Your Procedure
Do a saline enema the morning of your procedure. Follow the instructions on the box.
Eat and drink like you usually do. If you don’t eat before your procedure, it might be delayed.
During Your Procedure
First, your healthcare provider will gently insert a probe into your rectum. They will put an anesthetic (numbing) lubricant on it to help it slide in more easily. They may also give you an injection of a local anesthetic to numb the area around your prostate.
The probe uses ultrasound to make images of your prostate. It also has a thin needle. This will be used to put the 3 gold fiducial markers into 2 separate areas of your prostate. Your healthcare provider will use the ultrasound to help them guide the needle.
This procedure will take 15 minutes. Before you’re discharged from (leave) the clinic, your healthcare provider will tell you how to care for yourself at home.
After Your Procedure
It’s normal to have some soreness after your procedure, but most people don’t have pain. If you feel sore, you can take acetaminophen (Tylenol®). If the acetaminophen doesn’t help, call your doctor’s office.
For 3 days after your procedure, try to drink double the amount of liquids that you usually drink. This will help flush out your bladder, prevent infection, and minimize the amount of blood in your urine. It will also help soften your bowel movements, which helps keep your rectum from getting irritated.
