Subscribe to New prostate cancer treatment


External radiotherapy



External radiotherapy

In external radiotherapy, rays from a large machine are directed towards the part of the body where the cancer is located. You will need to go to the hospital or clinic for treatment. To make sure that exactly the same area is being treated each time, the radiation therapist will make a number of marks on your skin. These marks consist of lines, crosses and dots applied with special inks. Sometimes they will be redone during the course of treatment. External radiotherapy may be given five days a week for four to six weeks or more. This will depend on the size and type of cancer and on your general health. It takes a few minutes each time. Having radiotherapy in a number of small doses helps reduce the side effects. Radiotherapy may also be used to relieve pain caused by secondary cancers in the bone, or to shrink obstructions in your lymphatic or urinary systems. The treatment is not painful. You will not see, hear or feel the rays. External radiotherapy does not make you radioactive. It is quite safe for you to be with other people.


Side effects of external radiotherapy

External radiotherapy can cause a number of temporary side effects that will gradually disappear after the treatment has finished :

  • Short –term effects:

You may experience tiredness, cystitis and diarrhoea. Less common side effects include a reddening or burning sensation of the skin or nausea.

  • Long-term effects:

Radiotherapy for prostate cancer can cause erectile dysfunction (impotence), urinary incontinence, diarrhoea and bowel urgency. This can improve over time. Bowel problems may be experiences during or after treatment, resulting in diarrhoea with or without cramping.

A small number of men will continue top experience bowel problems after treatment has ended. Bleeding from the bowel affects some men treated with radiotherapy.It is estimated that for every man who has radiotherapy for prostate cancer, 40 to 80 will suffer erectile dysfunction and a small number will have urinary incontinence.

1 comment:

Blackjack Team said...

Instead of criticising write the variants is better.