Radiation Therapy is the use of high energy x-rays to treat cancer. It may be used if the cancer is contained within the prostate or if it has spread to the surrounding areas. There are two ways that the radiation therapy can be given: external or internal.
External Radiation Therapy
Radiation is directed at the tumor by a machine called a linear accelerator. The treatments are given each weekday for a period of about eight weeks. Sessions last only a few minutes and are done in an outpatient center.
At the Ireland Cancer Center, a new technique called "conformal radiation therapy" is available. Sophisticated computers are used to produce a three dimensional plan of the treatment area. Using this plan, the doctors can accurately direct the beam of radiation to the prostate and reduce exposure of the surrounding normal tissues to radiation. By protecting normal tissues from radiation, side effects are reduced.
Internal Radiation Therapy
Internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy means that the radiation is given by a radioactive source that is placed in or near the tumor.
At the Ireland Cancer Center several types of brachytherapy are available for the treatment of prostate cancer:
- Prostate Seed Implants may be used to treat early stage prostate cancer. During a prostate seed implant, the radiation oncologist will place radioactive seeds (either Iodine 125 or Pallidium 103) directly into the prostate.
- Intravenous radionucleotides, such as strontium 89 or samarium 153, may be used to treat bone pain in advanced prostate cancer.