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RADIATION THERAPY
If cancer is only found in the prostate
gland and it has not spread to other areas, your doctor may recommend
radiation therapy or radiotherapy.
Radiation therapy in some cases can be as effective as surgery when
it is used during the early stages of cancer. Often it is the best option for those men who are unable to
have surgery because they are older or have other medical problems.
While
it is considered a good treatment option, it may not kill all of the cancer
cells. There is a small risk that
the tumour may grow back over a number of years.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to
damage cells and stop them from growing.
There are different ways to administer radiation therapy.
External-beam radiation
A special machine is used to direct radiation
beams at the tumour and surrounding areas.
The treatment does not hurt and it lasts for only a few
minutes. Usually the duration of
treatment is for 6-7 weeks, or 30-35 visits.
“Conformal” radiation
This form uses the latest technology to
make external beam treatments more accurate by targeting and shaping the
radiation beam around the prostate gland.
This applies a greater dose of radiation to the tumour and reduces
the damage to healthy tissue around it.
Long-term side effects have also been found to be less severe than
with external-beam radiation.
Brachytherapy
This is also known as internal radiation
therapy. Small, radioactive seeds
are placed directly into your prostate.
The seeds are safe and remain in place. This delivers a very high does of radiation to the prostate
without affecting surrounding tissues.
The seeds do not cause discomfort and will not make you radioactive.
Possible Side Effects of Radiation Therapy
Radiation can cause some normal, healthy cells
to be injured during treatment.
Usually these cells will recover and most side-effects will
disappear over time. Side-effects
usually appear during the 3rd or 4th week of
treatment and can include:
·
Tiredness
– improves after treatment stops
·
Rectal
Problems – discomfort caused by diarrhea and rectal burning
·
Urinary
Changes – pain and burning while urinating
·
Redness
of the skin in the treatment area
·
Over
time, sexual changes such as a decrease in the amount of fluid ejaculated,
or inability to have or maintain an erection
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