You can receive radiation therapy via external beams or using radioactive implants:
External-beam radiation therapy (EBRT). External beam radiation treatment makes use of high-powered X-rays to kill cancer cells, using a machine to deliver the radiation beam. This type of radiation is effective at destroying cancerous cells, but it can also scar adjacent healthy tissue.
The first step in radiation therapy is to map the precise area of your body that needs to receive radiation. Doctors often use three-dimensional scans to determine the exact location of your prostate and surrounding structures. Computer-imaging software gives the radiation oncologist the ability to find the best angles to aim the beams of radiation. By using new techniques (IMRT), which allow for more precise focusing of the radiation beams with concentration of the radiation dose to the targeted area, greater doses of radiation can be administered to your prostate without harming surrounding tissue.
Sometimes a body supporter holds you in the same position for each treatment. You may also be asked to arrive with a full bladder for therapy. This will push most of your bladder out of the path of the radiation beam. Ink marks on your skin help to guide the radiation beam, and small gold markers may be placed in your prostate to ensure the radiation hits the same targets each time. Custom-designed shields help protect nearby normal tissue, such as your bladder, erectile tissues, anus, and rectal wall.
Treatments are generally given five days a week for about eight weeks. Each treatment appointment takes about 10 minutes. However, much of this is preparation time, radiation is received for only about 1 minute. You don't need anesthesia with external-beam radiation because the treatment isn't painful.
Most men have mild side effects from this type of treatment, but most of the side effects disappear shortly after treatment is completed. Most men don't have problems with erections or intercourse immediately after radiation therapy. However, radiation can cause sexual side effects in some men later in life. Most of these men respond to medications used for ED. The younger you are, the better your chance of retaining normal sexual function.
During treatment some men experience urinary problems. The most common signs and symptoms are urgency to urinate and frequent urination. These problems usually are temporary and gradually diminish in a few weeks after completing treatment. Long-term problems are uncommon.
Rectal problems, including loose bowel movements, scant rectal bleeding, discomfort during bowel movements and a sense that you have to have a bowel movement (rectal urgency), may arise during treatment. Once the treatment course is complete, these symptoms generally subside. However, a few men may continue to experience rectal problems months after treatment, but these improve on their own in most men. Most long-term rectal symptoms are controlled with medications. Rarely, people develop persistent bleeding or a rectal ulcer after radiation. Surgery may be necessary to alleviate these problems.
For the delivery of good-quality external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in localized prostate cancer, under-dosage to the peripheral zone (tumour) is one likely cause of poor results. The quality is improved by daily verification of the position of the prostate, and the use some method to spot the gland and treat it immediately. Currently these are demands on quality that should be incorporated in each radiotherapy department - but often may not be. Furthermore, an adequate radiation dose should be delivered and this can be done with minimum side effects using the very latest of radiation equipment and computer positioning.
Substantial variation in the prescribed and delivered doses exists among medical institutions, raising concerns about the validity of comparing clinical outcomes for IMRT. It therefore becomes very important that you have a Radiation Oncologist who has lots of experience in treating prostate cancer. Your life rides on his decisions.
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Erectile Dysfunction
Brachytherapy / Seed Implants
Hormonal Ablation Treatment
Radiation External - All Kinds
Surgical Removal - All Kinds
Watchful Waiting
Other Conventional Treatments
