Learning About Radiotherapy and Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer

When dealing with the treatment of prostate cancer, several methods come to mind. Usually, various different treatment methods are combined to achieve the most optimal results. One treatment method for prostate cancer is Brachytherapy. This is a form of treatment where several radiation seeds are inserted into the cancerous tumor located in the prostate gland. Subsequently, the inserted seeds produce a dose of radiation into the tumor over a certain time frame which can be several months depending on the stage of the cancer.

Even though brachytherapy has the same principal as conventional radiotherapy, the way it is administered is quite different. The basic mechanism of both methods is to apply radiation to eradicate cancerous cells. With brachytherapy, radiation seeds supply the dosage of radiation need to eradicate the cancer. With this method, radiation exposure levels are not damaging to other parts of the body, but it can still cause short term and long term side effects. A majority of brachytherapy side effects are similar to conventional radiotherapy but there are slight differences.

Several short term side effects for prostate cancer radiotherapy include tiredness, pubic hair loss, diarrhea and cystitis which can cause pain during urination. As for the long term side effects of prostate cancer radiotherapy include urinary incontinence and difficulties or inability to have an erection. On the other hand, brachytherapy is less likely to cause urinary incontinence compared to conventional radiotherapy.

Several studies have claimed that even with adequate chemotherapy there is an estimated 33% likelihood that the cancer may recur sometime in the future even after it has be eradicated by radiation.

Radiotherapy is usually combined with hormonal therapy to accomplish the most beneficial results. Often before undergoing radiotherapy, the physician will administer hormonal therapy which inhibits testosterone needed by the cancer to develop. Basically, it all comes down to the preference of the patient as to which type of treatment they would like to undergo but their physician will surely recommend the most adequate and beneficial course of treatment.