The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2009, approximately 192,280 new diagnoses of prostate cancer will be made in the United States. Treatment can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and hormone therapy. Radiation therapy uses x-rays or other radiation to kill cancer cells. For prostate cancer, radiation is often used in cancer that has not spread past the prostate, or in prostate cancer that has returned after surgery, or if there is any cancer left after surgery, according to the American Cancer Society. It can also be used before surgery to shrink cancer that is initially too large to surgically remove.
Types of Radiation Therapy
The National Cancer Institute describes two main types of radiation therapy for prostate cancer: external radiation and internal radiation (brachytherapy). External radiation is when radiation is beamed from a machine to the prostate. Typical treatment is five days a week for seven to nine weeks, according to the American Cancer Society. There are different forms of external radiation that allow higher doses of radiation to be sent to the cancerous area while protecting the healthy tissues around it. Brachytherapy is radiation that uses radioactive pellets or wires, which are inserted into the prostate. This kind of radiation is usually given in early-stage prostate cancer and how it is given depends on the kind of brachytherapy being used.
External Radiation Effects
Side effects of external radiation have been reduced due to the improved accuracy of radiation and minimal damage to normal tissues, reports the American Cancer Society. Side effects you may experience include bowel problems (diarrhea, rectal leakage), more frequent urination or incontinence, impotence, fatigue, and lymphedema (fluid accumulation that causes swelling) in the legs or genital area. Some of these side effects like impotence and urinary difficulties may lessen over time, but persist for years after treatment ends.
Brachytherapy Side Effects
Internal radiation may also cause side effects, including bowel problems, urinary difficulties and impotence. Approximately half of all men receiving radiation for prostate cancer become impotent within two years of treatment and fatigue is commonly felt when treatment ends, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. With internal radiation, there may be some discomfort or irritation at the insertion site, which does not happen with external radiation.
