thomasdevos
10-05-2009, 11:02 PM
Possible side effects of radiotherapy and brachytherapy of prostate cancer
Prostate cancer has many possible treatments, and different treatments are often used together to achieve the best results. A method of treatment is brachytherapy, which is when a number of radiation seeds are implanted into the tumor in the prostate gland. The seeds then give a dose of radiation to the tumor during a period of time, usually several months, although this varies.
Brachytherapy is another form of radiotherapy, but the same principle. The idea of therapy is to use radiation to destroy cancer cells. In the case of seeds, radiation, seeds provide the dose of radiation needed. The levels of radiation are not dangerous for the rest of the body, but can cause long and short term side effects. Most side effects of brachytherapy are the same as radiotherapy, although there are some small differences.
Radiation therapy for prostate cancer can cause side effects in the short term include:
Diarrhea
Loss of pubic hair
Fatigue
Cystitis ? Causes painful urination
Radiation therapy for prostate cancer can cause side effects long term the following:
The inability of the difficulty in obtaining an erection
Urinary Incontinence
However, the seed radiation (brachytherapy) is less likely to cause urinary incontinence compared to standard radiotherapy.
With all this radiation is a chance of about 33% that the cancer will return in the future once he has been killed by radiation.
Radiotherapy is often used in conjunction with hormone replacement therapy to achieve the most successful results. For example, hormone treatment (which blocks testosterone, the cancer needs to grow) is often performed before radiotherapy. Patients always have the last word about the treatment they want to use, but the doctor will tell you what he or she thinks is the best course of action.
Reference Site:
prostate cancer treatment (http://prostate-cancer-treatment-cure.com)
prostatecancerfoundation (http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org)
en.wikipedia.org (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostate_cancer)
www.cancer.gov (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/prostate)
neworiental (http://www.neworiental.org/publish/portal0/tab1127/info377702.htm)
Prostate cancer has many possible treatments, and different treatments are often used together to achieve the best results. A method of treatment is brachytherapy, which is when a number of radiation seeds are implanted into the tumor in the prostate gland. The seeds then give a dose of radiation to the tumor during a period of time, usually several months, although this varies.
Brachytherapy is another form of radiotherapy, but the same principle. The idea of therapy is to use radiation to destroy cancer cells. In the case of seeds, radiation, seeds provide the dose of radiation needed. The levels of radiation are not dangerous for the rest of the body, but can cause long and short term side effects. Most side effects of brachytherapy are the same as radiotherapy, although there are some small differences.
Radiation therapy for prostate cancer can cause side effects in the short term include:
Diarrhea
Loss of pubic hair
Fatigue
Cystitis ? Causes painful urination
Radiation therapy for prostate cancer can cause side effects long term the following:
The inability of the difficulty in obtaining an erection
Urinary Incontinence
However, the seed radiation (brachytherapy) is less likely to cause urinary incontinence compared to standard radiotherapy.
With all this radiation is a chance of about 33% that the cancer will return in the future once he has been killed by radiation.
Radiotherapy is often used in conjunction with hormone replacement therapy to achieve the most successful results. For example, hormone treatment (which blocks testosterone, the cancer needs to grow) is often performed before radiotherapy. Patients always have the last word about the treatment they want to use, but the doctor will tell you what he or she thinks is the best course of action.
Reference Site:
prostate cancer treatment (http://prostate-cancer-treatment-cure.com)
prostatecancerfoundation (http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org)
en.wikipedia.org (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostate_cancer)
www.cancer.gov (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/prostate)
neworiental (http://www.neworiental.org/publish/portal0/tab1127/info377702.htm)