Prostate Cancer And Radiation

When you think of prostate cancer, you also likely to think of radiation therapy. The two have long been partners, as radiation can effectively shrink cancerous tumors and destroy cancer cells. With the latest advancements in prostate cancer treatments, radiation has come full circle and today there are various types of radiation treatments. Only you and your doctor can determine which treatments are right for you, but let's take a look as the options.

External beam radiation is perhaps the most traditional approach to cancer treatment. This therapy involves directing a beam of radiation towards the internal organ within the body that contains the cancer. This type of therapy is often used in conjunction with chemotherapy and/or surgery to totally eradicate the cancer. One of the benefits to this type of radiation is that it causes no pain, and nausea is not one of the side effects to radiation of the prostate.

3D conformal radiation uses technology to produce a three dimensional image of the tumor on a computer screen. Multiple radiation beams can then be pointed at the tumor and conformed to its measurements. This is a newer form of radiation therapy that is being used in cancer centers across America. Healthy tissues are usually spared with this type of radiation treatment.

Radiation for Prostate Cancer

High-Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy is an internal radiation therapy is used to treat cancers of the prostate, lung, cervix, breast, rectum, tongue, and uterus. HDR Brachytherapy is very aggressive and yet it greatly reduces a man's risk of impotence and incontinence in comparison to other treatment options. The radiation is inside the tumor, putting it where it needs to be to destroy the cancer quickly and efficiently. This type of treatment only takes 1.5 days, as opposed to five to seven weeks of traditional radiation therapy, and irritation of the skin is eliminated.