Prostate Cancer Radiation
Radiation is a commonly known treatment for many types of cancer in various stages of development. It is also known as a treatment for prostate cancer, so if you have been diagnosed with this illness and you have been offered radiation treatment as a possible solution, it is worth finding out as much as you can about it before you start that treatment.
So what exactly does radiation treatment do? The answer is that it attacks the rogue cancer cells and destroys them. It does this by using the water that is present in the cells themselves. This causes damage and makes it impossible for the cancer cells to continue dividing and growing and taking over the body – in this case, the prostate gland itself.
Prostate cancer can be treated very successfully indeed with radiation therapy. It is sometimes offered in conjunction with surgery to remove the tumor, along with the rest of the prostate gland itself. In many cases it is given to make sure that any remaining cancer cells which are too small to be seen during surgery are also got rid of. As such radiation therapy can give the patient an even better chance of a full recovery.
Some people confuse radiation therapy with chemotherapy, but there is a crucial difference between the two. In the case of radiation therapy the treatment is almost always focused on the area where the cancer is situated. Chemotherapy meanwhile goes through the entire body. This generally means that radiation treatment has fewer side effects when compared to chemotherapy.
There are different ways of giving the patient the necessary radiation as well. For example, it may be done with the help of implants. This could be done after surgery to get rid of the majority of the tumor. The implants themselves are quite small, and they are positioned in the correct area to target the radiation at the cancer cells themselves. Depending on the decision of the doctor in charge, they may or may not be removed after their job is done. But if they remain in place there should be no cause to know they are there.
Another form of radiation that is commonly given is known as external radiation. This is very commonly done and it is given through a machine. The patient will usually lie on a table and the machine is directed very precisely at the exact area for maximum impact on the tumor. In this sense – as with the implants – very few other tissues or cells will be damaged by the radiation, as it is a very localized treatment.
These are the two main types of radiation therapy which may be given, although it can also be given via injection or swallowed. In this case it will act in much the same way as chemotherapy, and it won’t be contained to a small area of the body.
If you are offered radiation therapy as part of your treatment for prostate cancer, it is very important to find out which type of radiation therapy you are offered. If you are at all confused or worried about the treatment being given, do make sure you ask questions. Since there are three types of radiation treatment that are possible, it makes sense that you would want to know which type is going to be best for you and your needs.
There will always be a reason why one type is chosen over another, and you should know what the reason is. Educating yourself about your treatment is one way of taking control over this type of cancer, and doing everything you can to beat it.
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