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Cancer treatment device support

SpaceOAR™ Hydrogel

Understanding your treatment

If you’ve recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer, you may be weighing your treatment options including active surveillance, surgery and radiation. Radiation therapy can be extremely effective in treating prostate cancer, but as with any procedure, there are potential side effects. The prostate is next to the rectum. Due to the proximity, prostate radiation therapy can unintentionally cause damage to the rectum, which can lead to issues with bowel function.¹

Visualization of the proximity of the prostate and rectum showing where SpaceOAR is placed

Make space for life as usual

SpaceOAR™ Hydrogel is an absorbable PEG-based hydrogel that temporarily creates space between the prostate and rectum, designed to reduce radiation dose to the rectum to help minimize the side effects of radiation therapy.²


What to expect from SpaceOAR Hydrogel

If you’re considering using SpaceOAR along with the radiation treatment for your prostate cancer, find out what to expect before, during and after your procedure:

Before

Before your procedure, your doctor will provide specific instructions for preparation. Ask your medical team about your specific instructions.

Animated person with preparation instructions on a clipboard

During

Your procedure may take place in an office setting or in an operating room.²

Using ultrasound for guidance, your doctor will inject the hydrogel between the rectum and prostate, creating an average of 1.3cm of space (about half an inch), which is designed to reduce radiation exposure to the rectum during treatment.³

 

Animated person lying on a table in a doctor’s office

After

After your procedure, your doctor will provide post-treatment instructions for care and instructions resuming activities. SpaceOAR Hydrogel maintains space for approximately 3 months and is naturally reabsorbed by the body after about 6 months.²

 

Animated doctor and patient checking out of a doctor’s office

See what to expect from your upcoming procedure


A little space can make a big difference

SpaceOAR Hydrogel can be used along with types of prostate cancer radiation therapy and may help minimize the side effects associated with treatment. Top cancer institutions and radiation oncologists choose SpaceOAR Hydrogel, with over 220,000 SpaceOAR Hydrogel patients and growing.*²


Recovering from your procedure

After your SpaceOAR Hydrogel procedure, you can gradually return to normal life. Your doctor will help you decide what level of activity is best for you. Some general guidelines include avoiding: 

  • Strenuous activity 
  • Rough contact in the perineum, or area SpaceOAR Hydrogel injection 
  • Lifting heavy objects until instructed by your doctor 

Regular follow-up visit

It's important to follow all aftercare instructions from your medical team, including maintaining follow-up visits.

We’re here to help

Our patient services team is here to support you throughout your journey.

SpaceOAR Hydrogel is intended to temporarily move the rectal wall away from the prostate during the course of radiotherapy treatment for prostate cancer, and in creating this space it is the intent of SpaceOAR Hydrogel to reduce the radiation dose affecting the rectum. 

SpaceOAR Hydrogel contains polyethylene glycol (PEG). As with any medical treatment, there are some risks involved with the use of SpaceOAR Hydrogel. Potential complications associated with SpaceOAR Hydrogel include, but are not limited to: pain associated with injection, pain or discomfort from the  hydrogel, site inflammation, infection (including abscess), inability to urinate, urgent need to urinate, constipation, rectal muscle spasm, damage to lining of rectum, ulcers, fistula (a hole between rectum and bladder, urethra, or skin below the scrotum), perforation (hole in prostate, bladder, urethra, rectum), necrosis (dead tissue), allergic reaction (local reaction or more severe reaction, such as anaphylaxis), embolism (blood vessel blockage is possible and may happen outside of the pelvis, potentially impacting vital organs or legs), fainting, and bleeding. Please talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits related to using SpaceOAR Hydrogel. If one or more of these complications occur, you may need medical treatment or surgery. URO-1288805-AA 

* Number of patients is based on units shipped and a BSC proprietary algorithm

References:

  1. American Cancer Society. Radiation Theraphy for Prostate Cancer. Accessed May 11, 2022. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/treating/radiation-therapy.html  
  2. Data on file with Boston Scientific. 
  3. Mariados N, Sylvester J, Shah D, et al. Hydrogel spacer prospective multicenter randomized controlled pivotal trial: Dosimetric and clinical effects of perirectal spacer application in men undergoing prostate image guided intensity modulated radiation therapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2015 Aug 1;92(5):971-7. 

Caution: U.S. Federal law restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician. 

Results from case studies are not necessarily predictive of results in other cases. Results in other cases may vary. 

Content of this page is for Informational Purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Boston Scientific Corporation strongly recommends that you consult with your physician on all matters pertaining to your health or to address any questions.  

SpaceOAR Hydrogel is intended to temporarily move the rectal wall away from the prostate during the course of radiotherapy treatment for prostate cancer, and in creating this space it is the intent of SpaceOAR Hydrogel to reduce the radiation dose affecting the rectum. 

SpaceOAR Hydrogel contains polyethylene glycol (PEG). As with any medical treatment, there are some risks involved with the use of SpaceOAR Hydrogel. Potential complications associated with SpaceOAR Hydrogel include, but are not limited to: pain associated with injection, pain or discomfort from the  hydrogel, site inflammation, infection (including abscess), inability to urinate, urgent need to urinate, constipation, rectal muscle spasm, damage to lining of rectum, ulcers, fistula (a hole between rectum and bladder, urethra, or skin below the scrotum), perforation (hole in prostate, bladder, urethra, rectum), necrosis (dead tissue), allergic reaction (local reaction or more severe reaction, such as anaphylaxis), embolism (blood vessel blockage is possible and may happen outside of the pelvis, potentially impacting vital organs or legs), fainting, and bleeding. Please talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits related to using SpaceOAR Hydrogel. If one or more of these complications occur, you may need medical treatment or surgery. URO-1288805-AA 

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