Page 2 - Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer

Radiation therapy for prostate cancer

Brachytherapy Radiation to the rectum often causes increased number
of bowel movements and some blood in the stool,
Radiation can also be delivered to the prostate from although this often clears up soon after treatment.
dozens of tiny radioactive seeds implanted directly into These problems are usually effectively controlled with
the prostate gland. This approach, known as interstitial changes to your diet or with medications. Radiation
implantation or brachytherapy, has the advantage of can occasionally cause a variety of long-term problems
delivering a high dose of radiation to tissues in a focused with the bowels including inflammation of the rectum
area, while minimizing damage to healthy tissues such as (proctitis), with bleeding and bowel problems such as
the rectum and bladder. diarrhea.
Brachytherapy relies on imaging techniques, usually Similar to changes in the bowels, it is common to notice
ultrasound, to guide the placement of thin needles changes in your voiding pattern during treatment. Most
through the skin of the crotch. Seeds made of radioactive men will notice some increased urge to void as well as
palladium or iodine are delivered through the needles an increased need to void during the day or night. Blood
into the prostate, according to a customized pattern to may also be visible in the urine which is usually short lived
conform to the shape and size of each man’s prostate. but may persist for many years. Some patients will notice
The implantation procedure is much different than permanent changes to their bladder function. Long-
external beam radiation in that it is done in an operating term complications, such as urinary incontinence, are
room or procedure unit and can be completed in an uncommon and generally not severe.
hour or two. This is usually done as a day procedure either
under general anaesthesia or under spinal anesthesia. In the longer term, many men having radiation therapy
will lose the ability to have natural erections. Today,
The seeds emit radiation for several weeks, then remain several forms of treatment are available to restore
permanently and harmlessly in place. Alternatively, some erections if this becomes necessary. While the feeling of
doctors use much more powerful radioactive seeds left orgasm usually is preserved, ejaculation will often be dry
in only over a period of several days. Such temporary following radiation to the prostate and semen glands,
implants, which require hospitalization, may be combined and the absence of sperm may make you infertile.
with low doses of external beam radiation.
When radiation therapy is given to treat prostate cancer,
Brachytherapy is not suitable for all patients. This form a small amount of bladder and rectum are also treated
of radiation may not be appropriate for men with large given that they are close to the prostate. As a result, there
prostates or those with advanced disease. Men who is a small risk of developing a radiation induced cancer
have undergone prostate surgery for the relief of voiding in these other organs. Studies show an approximate 1%
difficulty due to non-cancerous prostate enlargement risk of developing a radiation induced bladder cancer
run a significant risk of urinary complications after and a less than 1% risk of developing rectal cancer. These
brachytherapy. percentages are reported in patients having received
radiation many years ago, prior to the newer and more
precise radiation techniques used today that treat
Risks and complications less normal rectal and bladder tissue surrounding the
prostate.
Because the radiation used to control cancer in the
prostate passes through normal tissues such as the There is always the risk of cancer recurrence after any
rectum, the bladder and the intestines, it can cause treatment for prostate cancer. A regular follow-up
damage to some healthy cells. Many of these effects are schedule will be advised. In some patients who have
only temporary. Patients frequently experience fatigue had surgery to remove the prostate because of prostate
near the end of their treatments but this usually clears cancer they can be treated with radiation after surgery
up when the treatments are over. After brachytherapy, to attempt to kill any remaining or recurring cancer cells.
post-implant discomfort in the prostate can occur but It is important to note that patients who have received
can usually be controlled by oral painkillers. radiation initially are typically not a candidate for surgery
after radiation due to the high risk of complications.

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