Different Kinds of Prostate Cancer Radiation Treatment
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For patients with advanced prostate cancer, radiation treatment is becoming a more popular option. It is often non-invasive, generally painless and effective especially in the latter stages of cancer - in which there is no cure, although relief is still an option.
Thanks to modern medicine, different kinds of prostate cancer radiation treatment are being developed, and specifically tailored to target cancer at different stages. Here are a few of the more widely-known examples:
1. External radiation therapy. This may also be called "external beam radiation therapy (EBRT)." In this method, a highly focused beam of radiation is used to treat cancer cells that are still confined to specific areas of the body. This therapy has three types which are considered the most modern and effective:
a. 3-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D-CRT)
b. Conformal Proton Beam Radiation Therapy
c. Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
IMRT in particular allows doctors to use a more concentrated dosage of radiation, more safely. It is more focused and therefore reduces the risk of having adjacent organs damaged due to contact with the radioactive beam.
This type of therapy has been associated with loss of bladder and bowel control. Impotence has also been known to develop after two years, so younger patients may wish to seek other forms of treatment. In fact, some side effects from this method run the risk of becoming permanent; it is important that the patient is aware of this before the procedure is started.
2. Brachytherapy, also known as internal radiation therapy. This type of therapy allows the doctor to use a higher level of radiation than can be used in external beam therapy. It does not cause severe side effects, such as making the patient radioactive. It also often requires fewer sessions than external therapy, and is said to be more effective than extensive surgeries like prostatectomy. However, this type of therapy has also been associated with impotence and urinary and bowel problems.
3. Injectible radioactive compounds. This is a form of prostate cancer radiation treatment where radioactive chemmicals are injected into the patient's bloodstream, allowing it to spread more thoroughly throughout the body. This is considered as an alternative in cases where the cancer has spread to various areas. However, it is not certified to work against all types of tumors.