There are two types of radiation treatment for prostate
cancer: seed therapy and external beam radiation therapy. Radiation
therapy works by killing the cancer cells. The goal is to kill all the
cancer cells, but not any healthy cells.
The first type of radiation treatment for prostate
cancer is external radiation treatment. Usually, the man receives five
treatments a week for seven weeks. If the cancer has spread, radiation
can be aimed at those areas, too. External radiation is painless,
doesn’t require any anesthesia and only takes a few minutes each time.
It does mean a daily trip to a treatment facility, though.
Side effects of radiation treatment for prostate cancer
include incontinence, impotence and fatigue. Not everyone experiences
these side effects.
The other type of radiation treatment for prostate
cancer is seed therapy, or brachytherapy. Small seeds of radioactive
iodine or palladium are placed inside the prostate gland, where they
emit radiation that kills the tumor cells. The radiation in each
implant lasts about two years, which is long enough to kill the cancer
cells.
Seed therapy has about the same cure rate and side
effects as external radiation treatment for prostate cancer. Seed
therapy is only used for tumors that have not metastasized outside the
prostate. The initial seed implantation causes some discomfort, but the
patient can usually return to his usual routine in a day or two.
Radiation treatment for prostate cancer is successful
when the cancer is diagnosed early. Many men prefer it to surgery
because it is less invasive.
