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External Beam Radiation - Risks vs. Rewards

'Must-Know' Facts For Those New to
External Beam Radiation For Prostate Cancer

Radiation therapy is the preferred alternative for men with prostate cancer who are unable to undergo surgical removal because of health risks.

Whether you can say external beam radiation is better than surgery is still a debatable issue. But with either approach on early stage cancer there is a good chance of being cancer free 5-10 years later.

External Beam Radiation Defined: This is a type of radiation treatment in which high-energy rays are targeted on the tumor to destroy the cancer cells.

When you use the term external beam radiation you may also be referring to any one of three approaches of targeting high doses of radiation to the prostate to attack the cancer.

With the three-dimensional (3D) method the oncologist targets the x-rays precisely conformed CT scans to mirror the shape of the tumor. This results in better targeting which allows for higher dosages to be used on the cancer.

A step beyond 3D, IMRT (intensity modulated radiation therapy) uses computer guided x-rays. With this approach the idea is to better target the intensity of the radiation beams using software. Doing so cuts the amount of spill over to surrounding tissue. This allows dosage customization for each person being treated. Availability is an issue. As is cost.

Fewer side affects are the claimed advantage of proton beam therapy. Because proton beams rather than x-rays are used, less collateral damage results as a results of pass through even though higher radiation doses are possible. Again limited availability is an issue with this approach.

The idea of each is to deliver more energy on the cancerous cells and less to surrounding healthy tissue.

Who best for: Those with localized prostate cancer (stage T2) or locally advanced stage of cancer (stage T3). It is also used as to reduce pain in those cases where the cancer has spread to the bones and spine.

Pros:
• Treatment is not painful and recovery time is faster compared to surgery.

• It can shrink tumors which have spread to other parts of body like the pelvis which is not possible with surgery.

• Fewer experience bladder problems compared to surgery.

• With the advanced techniques like 3DCRT, IMRT and proton beam therapy more energy is brought to bear on the problems within the prostate with less damage to nearby tissues. Minimizing the side effects.

Cons:
• Side affects are not uncommon with any radiation therapy. Although they usually go away once the sessions cease. But you may can expect to feel more tired, suffer loss of appetite, experience nausea and diarrhea along with blood in your urine among others.

• While done on an outpatient basis, treatments are time consuming and disruptive to your daily routine. Usually you are treated five days a week over the course of six to eight weeks.

• Over time there is some risk of bladder problems, narrowing of urethra, leaking of urine, rectal inflammation, or impotence. While designed to spare healthy tissue, the radiation can still damage the bladder and rectum while destroying cancerous cells.

As with many medical procedures the best results are achieved from experienced centers with those who have early stage cancer.Being able to use higher doses of radiation and advanced techniques there is a much higher cure rate with this treatment option.

Sum it up: However whether this is the best treatment option for you depends. The final decision can only be made after you understand the risks and rewards of this and other prostate cancer treatment procedures in consultation with your doctor. That said, external beam radiation is a good choice for many with early stage prostate cancer.

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