3 Forms Of Radiation Treatment Used For Prostate Cancer

Radiation therapy is a common form of treatment used either alone or in conjunction with other treatments, such as chemotherapy or immunotherapy. If you are receiving radiation therapy, the type will be contingent upon several factors, such as the stage of cancer or whether the cancer is recurrent.

Traditional Radiation

There are several forms of traditional, external radiation. The procedure involves precise measurements to target the tumor with the radiation beam while minimizing damage to surrounding tissue. Due to the risk of damaging surrounding tissue, more precise forms of radiation, such as using computer modeling or proton therapy might be used when available. Proton therapy is one of the least likely to cause damage to tissue beyond the tumor because, unlike other methods, protons do not begin to release energy on contact with the skin. Since the protons reach a certain depth in the tissue before releasing energy, less damage is done before it reaches the tumor. The intensity of radiation therapy will depend on the specific form of external radiation. Most men will have many sessions of low-dose radiation therapy, but in some instances, fewer sessions with a higher dose of radiation may be necessary.

Internal Radiation

Internal radiation is far more precise than external radiation because the radiation is injected directly into the tumor. The type of internal radiation can be either low- or high-dose. For low-dose treatment, small seeds of radioactive material are inserted into the prostate under anesthesia. The benefit of this form of internal radiation is the process is more comfortable. After the seeds are implanted, they do not need to be removed and they give off small amounts of radiation over an extended time. High-dose radiation may be necessary, which involves a more lengthy procedure. Catheters are inserted into the prostate so the radioactive material can be inserted and removed, therefore the catheters will need to stay in place for the duration of treatment, which can be a couple of days. Each time the radioactive material is inserted into the prostate, it only lasts for a few minutes because of the high dose.

Radioactive Medications

Less commonly, radiation therapy can be done through radioactive medications. The medicine is given intravenously. This method is typically used for men who have prostate cancer that has spread beyond the prostate. The medication only works for specific forms of prostate cancer. Prostate cancers that have prostate-specific membrane antigens are currently the only forms of prostate cancer that can benefit from radioactive medications. These medications target the specific antigen to destroy prostate cancer that may have metastasized to other areas in the body.

Radiation therapy is a common treatment for prostate cancer because it can be used to target specific tumors. There are several variables that will affect whether radiation therapy is appropriate for you and the specific form you will receive.

Reach out to a clinic like Affinity Health Group to learn more.