Radiation Treatments for Prostate Cancer
More than 180,000 American men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008, figures cited by the American Cancer Society show. The silver lining to this harrowing diagnosis is two-fold: Prostate cancer tends to grow slowly and a number of effective therapies are available, including two commonly used forms of radiation treatments. Radiation can serve as the primary prostate cancer treatment or as a supporting therapy for another treatment such as a radical prostatectomy surgical procedure.
Prostate Cancer Facts
About the same size as a walnut, the prostate gland is found at the bottom of a man's pelvis near his rectum and bladder. Its main job is providing nutrients and protection to semen.
Affecting one out of every six men, prostate cancer ranks as the most common non-skin malignancy in the United States. The prevalence of prostate cancer grows markedly with age: Half of men older than 50 develop prostate cancer and 80 percent of men over age 80 get the disease. The American Cancer estimates that 28,660 men in the United States died from prostate cancer in 2008.
Function of Radiation Treatments
Radiation treatments employ high levels of carefully targeted radiation to destroy prostate cancer cells. Early-stage tumors confined to the prostate gland or nearby tissues are best suited for radiation treatments. Radiation also can be utilized in an effort to shrink tumors associated with more advanced cancers.
Types
Two different approaches exist for using radiation to treat prostate cancer.
In external beam radiation therapy, an x-ray machine delivers radiation to a target area. This therapy, which takes only a few minutes, is typically administered five days per week for several weeks.
The second type is called brachytherapy or seed therapy. It involves implanting small radioactive pellets near the cancer.
For more aggressive tumors, seed therapy and external beam radiation can be combined in what's known as dose escalation.
Benefits
Studies have shown that radiation treatments for prostate cancer have roughly the same long-term cure rates as surgical approaches. Patients who have radiation therapy do not have to be hospitalized. There are also no surgical risks or lengthy recovery periods associated with radiation treatments.
Effects
About half of men become impotent within two years after radiation therapy, a side effect that is also associated with other prostate cancer treatments. Patients may feel very tired at the conclusion of their radiation treatments. Though serious complications such as incontinence are rare, other side effects of radiation treatments for prostate cancer may include urinary and rectal problems.
Advice
Eight out of 10 men diagnosed with prostate cancer will have the disease detected at an early stage when it remains highly treatable. Many of these patients may opt to put off treatment, an approach called watchful waiting. Besides radiation therapy, the menu of other treatments range from surgery to newer options like biologic therapy, cryotherapy and high-intensity focused ultrasound. Some men may choose alternative treatments that focus on specific herbs, plants, supplements and vitamins.
The important thing to remember is that prostate cancer patients should confer with their doctor and loved ones prior to making a decision regarding treatment. Obtaining a second opinion from an oncologist also is recommended.
Tags: prostate cancer, radiation therapy, associated with, prostate cancer, radiation treatments
