Prostate - Radiation Therapy

Prostate radiation therapy is a common treatment for men with prostate cancer. It involves using high-energy radiation beams to target and destroy cancer cells in the prostate gland. The radiation is delivered either from outside the body (external beam radiation therapy) or from inside the prostate gland (brachytherapy). Radiation therapy may be used as the primary treatment for early-stage prostate cancer or as a secondary treatment after surgery or other therapies for more advanced cancer.

During external beam radiation therapy, the patient lies on a table while a machine delivers radiation beams to the prostate gland from different angles. Each treatment session typically lasts only a few minutes, but patients may need to undergo multiple sessions over several weeks. In brachytherapy, tiny radioactive seeds are implanted directly into the prostate gland, where they deliver radiation directly to the cancer cells over time. This procedure is typically performed under anesthesia and requires a hospital stay of one or two days.

Prostate radiation therapy can have side effects, including fatigue, urinary problems, bowel problems, and sexual dysfunction. However, many men find that these side effects are manageable and that the benefits of treatment outweigh the risks. It's important to discuss the potential risks and benefits of prostate radiation therapy with your doctor and to carefully consider all of your treatment options before making a decision.