Prostate Cancer

Home » Prostate Cancer » Radiation Treatment

Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Prostate Cancer
(Free Handout)

Radiation Therapy

Two types of radiation therapy are used to treat prostate cancer: brachytherapy and external radiation therapy (XRT).

Brachytherapy
This treatment involves implanting tiny, radioactive capsules (called "seeds") into the cancerous prostate gland. The seeds emit radiation that kills the malignant tumor. Men with small tumors confined to the prostate (stage T1 or T2) are candidates for brachytherapy.

Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) is used to create a three-dimensional grid map of the prostate, and a computer calculates the volume of the gland, the number of seeds needed, and determines where they will be placed.

The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis and takes 45 to 60 minutes. The patient is given regional anesthesia. A needle is inserted through the perineum and into the predetermined site(s). Fifty to 100 rice-sized seeds are implanted into the prostate through the needle. The seeds contain a radioactive isotope (usually palladium 103 or iodine 125) that emits radiation for about 3 months and then becomes inert.

Recovery
Brachytherapy patients are discharged the same day and usually resume routine activity within a day or so. A recent study has shown that most brachytherapy patients remain free of prostate cancer 5 years after treatment.

Complications
A small number of patients, generally those over age 70, experience incontinence or impotence.

External Radiation Treatment (XRT)

XRT is recommended when the tumor has spread through the prostate capsule to surrounding tissues. XRT usually is given on an outpatient basis for 7 or 8 weeks. High-energy x-rays are projected onto prostate tissue from a machine outside the body. The radiation destroys cancer cells and shrinks tumors.

A study of 999 patients found 79% of stage T1, 66% of stage T2, 55% of stage T3, and 22% of stage T4 prostate cancer patients survived 10 years after XRT.

Recently, CyberKnife® stereotactic radiosurgery is being used in some treatment centers to treat prostate cancer. In this procedure, a computer program is used to determine the precise shape, size, and location of the tumor, and a robotic arm helps deliver highly concentrated beams of radiation from many different angles and positions. These beams intersect at the tumor and thus, should not damage healthy tissue.

Complications
Erectile dysfunction (i.e., impotence, particularly in older men), discomfort with urination, urinary urgency, and diarrhea (especially during the late stages of treatment) are commonly experienced with XRT.

Prostate Cancer, Radiation Treatment reprinted with permission from urologychannel.com
© 1998-2008 Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Prostate Cancer Resources

	Join Our Prostate Cancer Forum Do you have a question, want to share medical advice, or just need to discuss your situation with someone else having a similar experience? The healthchannels forum is a resource for everyone to share and discuss their health and medical needs with others.	Advertising Disclaimer
	Living with...Share your story Do you have a personal health story that you would like to share with others? As a source of free patient education, our goal is to provide our users with trustworthy information and support from others. That's why we've started our "Living with..." sections.
	Our "Living With..." support pages are a place to share experiences about living with a certain condition, disease, disorder, or illness and for loved ones of those dealing with health-related issues. Many people, especially when newly diagnosed, find comfort in knowing that others are having a similar experience. Help others by sharing your story. View stories already submitted.
	Stay Updated Sign up for our newsletter and receive important updates on the medical conditions that are most important to you.
Advertising Disclaimer To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download Healthcommunities.com's healthchannels toolbar. Advertising Disclaimer