Radiation therapy for prostate cancer

There are two main "categories" of radiation therapy for prostate cancer.

One involves external radiation (often called external beam radiation therapy).

The other involves internal radiation (called brachytherapy), which is also referred to as seed implantation or interstitial radiation therapy.

In both external and internal radiation treatments, the prostate gland remains intact (it is not removed). While some men with recurrent prostate cancer undergo surgery for prostate removal after radiation treatment has failed (called salvage surgery), it is a more complicated surgical procedure.

Radiation treatment for prostate cancer may be used in an attempt to cure the cancer. It may also be used to help shrink a tumor, or to prevent or relieve symptoms.

Sometimes radiation therapy is used in combination with other treatments, such as hormone treatment. Recent studies have shown that hormone treatment prior to radiation treatment may help make the cancer cells more susceptible to radiation.

In December 2008, there were a flurry of news reports about a study reported on in the The Lancet that showed that men with locally advanced prostate cancer (cancer that spread beyond the wall of the prostate gland), who had radiation treatment in addition to long-term hormone treatment, reduced their risk of dying of prostate cancer by more than half, compared to men who had radiation treatment alone.

Always discuss everything you read on this web site with a qualified medical professional.

Updated 3/09



External beam radiation therapy
Internal radiation therapy

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