Prostate Radiation Effects
Two kinds of prostate cancer treatment are conducted with radiation. One form is known as external radiation in which radiation is applied, using external equipment. The second one is an internal method in which a radioactive substance is implanted into the patient's prostate. Common side effects have been observed through both methods.
Other People Are Reading
-
What Is Prostate Cancer?
-
The prostate is an organ found only in men. It is located just below the urinary bladder near the rectum. The majority of prostate cancer cases start developing inside the glands cells, a type known as adenocarcinoma. Prostate cancer develops so slowly that it may not even be a problem for patients for a long time, particularly during the younger and middle ages. Some men may have prostate cancer and not even know about it during their lives.
Side Effects of Radiation Treatment
-
Studies conducted by the University of Michigan's Journal on Oncology showed that the side effects on men whose prostate was treated with radiation were minimal and may improve over time. Nevertheless such side effects or new side effects may appear after six years. This finding contrasts with the data for men whose prostate was treated by surgical means. In this instance their side effects were not found to change significantly over time.
-
Impotence
-
According to the Journal of Oncology study, a significant percentage of men who received radiation treatment for their prostate cancer develop impotence problems. The impotence problem on the average developed after a period of about 2.5 years.
Rectal Irritation
-
A small percentage of men whose prostate problem was treated with radiation developed rectal irritation after the treatment. Rectal irritation lasts for short periods of time and may totally disappear over time.
Tissue Damages
-
External radiation can and often produce tissue damage on the patient over time. The damage to the skin and tissue may not appear instantly; most develop over time. The damage results from the actual radiation impact to the body, although the degree of damage oftentimes is related to the level of radiation applied. Two of the tissues often impacted by external radiation are the bladder and the rectum. The number of prostate cancer patients with radiation treatment that developed tissue damage after the radiation treatment is quite small.
Problem of Incontinence
-
This problem is often a common side effect of prostate cancer radiation treatment. It may result from minor or, in some cases, major damage to the urinary tract or bladder. This side effect is reported by about 10 percent of the men who were treated with radiation. The patients experience urine leakages and, depending on the magnitude of the problem, some patients may need a secondary surgery to correct the problem. Others may require external absorbent materials such as pads to soak up the leaking urine.
-
