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Prostate Cancer Center of Seattle History

1985  
Drs. Blasko, Grimm and Ragde perform the first Seattle Technique ultrasound guided prostate seed implants.

1987
Dr. Sylvester joins the Brachytherapy* team of Blasko, Grimm and Ragde.

1988 – 1989
Technical advances in imaging, dosimetry** and stabilization improve technique.

1989
Prostate Brachytherapy training courses (Drs. Blasko, Grimm, Sylvester and Ragde) begin at Seattle’s Northwest Hospital for physician nurses and physicists throughout the world.

1988 – 1997
Drs. Blasko, Grimm and Sylvester initiate studies evaluating results of thousands of patients treated with prostate seed implantation.

1996

  • Drs. Sylvester and Radge appear on Good Morning America performing a prostate implant.
  • Seed Plan Pro, a planning and quality assurance company, which later becomes ProQura, is developed.

1997

  • Drs. Grimm and Sylvester, with Tumor Institute Radiation Oncology Group, form the Seattle Prostate Institute (SPI) at Swedish Hospital in Seattle.
  • The Seattle Prostate Institute Education Department is started.
  • Dr. Blasko leaves Northwest Hospital to join University of Washington Faculty.

1998

  • Dr. Blasko re-joins Drs. Grimm and Sylvester at Seattle Prostate Institute.
  • RAPID Strand connected seed technology developed with Oncura and first used by Drs. Grimm, Blasko and Sylvester.
  • 1998Echo seed technology, developed by Oncura, is first used and introduced by Dr.

2000 – 2003

  • Drs. Sylvester and Grimm establish a Residency Training program at SPI funded by Oncura.
  • Dr. Grimm develops and patents Seed Link (Bard) connected seed technology.
  • ABS Residency Prostate Brachytherapy Fellowship Program, a cooperative relationship with Kent Wallner of University of Washington, Drs. Sylvester, Grimm and Blasko, The American Brachytherapy Society (ABS) and GE-Oncura begins.

1997 – 2009

  • Drs. Grimm, Blasko and Sylvester publish over 60 articles for the medical literature as well as present hundreds of lectures and training courses.
  • 2007 JanSeattle’s KING(NBC), KOMO(ABC) and KIRO TV(CBS) interview Dr. Sylvester on latest developments in prostate cancer.
  • 2007 Brazil invites Dr. Sylvester to present on national TV.
  • 2007 Dr. Blasko retires.

2008

  • Aug Dr  Grimm  develops with Oncura new ThinStrand technology .  The smaller seed results in fewer side effects.

2009

  • May – Dr. Grimm is honored with the American Brachytherapy Society’s Presidents Award for outstanding achievement and contribution to Brachytherapy.
  • July – Drs. Grimm and Sylvester, nursing, administrative, research and dosimetry staff leave the Seattle Prostate Institute to form the Prostate Cancer Center of Seattle; a premier center for advances and research in prostate cancer therapy.
  • October – Prostate Cancer Center of Seattle establishes offices in Tacoma, Poulsbo, and Marysville (Washington State).

2011
Dr. Sylvester joins urology group in Florida.

Dr Grimm partners with Washington Radiation Oncology Group

Dr Grimm begins using MRI multiparametric imaging, and mapping techniques to treat recurrent disease with brachytherapy and cryotherapy.,

2012

Dr Grimm , with the cooperation of 25 world experts establish the Prostate Cancer Results Study Group (PCRSG)  and  publishes the most comprehensive  review comparating treatments for prostate  cancer

Drs Grimm and Green begin Salvage Cryotherapy for recurrent disease after bracytherapy

2014

Prostate Cancer Treatment Foundation website established. Fred Owen Teresa Swenson join and lead Foundation supporting PCRSG  work

Drs Grimm and Hsi establish protocol for treating recurrent disease after external beam radiation with focal Brachytherapy

 

Pioneering Prostate Brachytherapy: Prostate Cancer Center of Seattle Physicians

For the past 25 years Drs. Peter Grimm, John Blasko and John Sylvester have pioneered modern permanent seed implantation. The team has been instrumental in the following developments in Prostate Brachytherapy

1985
Pioneered treating Prostate Cancer with Seed Implantation in the US

1986
Needle design for Permanent Seed Implantation

1990
Began training physicians from around the world in Seed Implantation

1993
Developed Rapid Strand: a new connected seed technology

1994
Seed Site Pro Quality Assurance Company, precursor to ProQura

1997

  • Opened Seattle Prostate Institute
    Seattle Prostate Institute Education started
    ProQura Medical Quality Assurance Company started

2001
Published: Ten year study demonstrating the high success rate of Seed Implantation equivalent to best surgical series

2003

  • Co-Edited: The Prostate Cancer Treatment Book
  • Developed Bard Source Link connected seeds

2004
Developed improved Rapid Strand

2007
John Blasko retires

2008
Developed Thin Strand with Oncura

2009

  • Peter Grimm presented President Award American Brachytherapy Society
  • Peter Grimm and John Sylvester form the Prostate Cancer Center of Seattle as a dedicated Prostate Cancer Center
  • Paper on 15 year experience with permanent seed implantation
* Brachytherapy: Any procedure in which a source of radioactive material is placed near a tumor. The implantation of radioactive seeds for prostate cancer is a form of brachytherapy in which the seeds emit low energy radiation in order to kill cancer cells inside and immediately surrounding the prostate.
** Dosimetry: The process of calculating the radiation dose to a specific area of the body. With Prostate brachytherapy, this involves using sophisticated computers to determine seed placement, seed strength and needle placement.