Side Effects Of Radiation Treatment For Prostate Cancer 2010

Radiation therapy treats cancer by using high energy waves to kill tumor cells.

Side effects of radiation treatment for prostate cancer 2010.

However radiation therapy has a slower delay in erectile function decline than surgery. Most side effects are temporary can be controlled and generally improve over time once treatment has ended. This treatment can cause side. The side effects of external beam radiation therapy tend to be less severe than the side effects of other prostate cancer treatments doctors will often use external radiation therapy for prostate cancer patients who want to avoid the risks of surgery.

Prostate cancer treatment side effects of radiation therapy can be divided into early occurring during or shortly after treatment and late occurring months or years after treatment effects. Managing prostate cancer treatment side effects. During and after radiation treatment for prostate cancer there may be diarrhea and or rectal pain irritable bowels incontinence of feces and sometimes bloody stools 2 according to the acs this is more common with older forms of external beam radiation where the source of radiation is placed outside the body. These effects are related to the organs around the prostate.

It is very important that you communicate with your doctors about the side effects that you are experiencing as you undergo treatment. Short term side effects of radiation therapy for prostate cancer. External beam radiation therapy side effects. The goal is to destroy or damage the cancer without hurting too many healthy cells.

To help you understand the safety of this procedure we shall look at both the short and long term side effects resulting from this treatment. These radiation therapy side effects are mild and tolerable. These rates do not appear to be affected in the long term by the use of short term 4 to 6 months hormone therapy but will be affected by the use of long term 18 to 36 months. They tend to occur after the treatment and lasts for few days to weeks.

Early management of side effects has been shown to help patients live longer better lives. Radiation therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. The type and severity of side effects you have with external beam radiation for prostate cancer may depend on the dose and on the amount of healthy tissue that s exposed to the radiation.