5 Common Side Effects of Radiation Therapy For Prostate Cancer
There are three methods used in prostate cancer treatment
. One of which is through radiation therapy. This kind of treatment can be delivered in two ways, externally and internally. Externally treatment is done in several sessions wherein a high-frequency x-ray machine is used to kill cancer cells. The internal method or medically known as brachytherapy uses the implantation of radioactive seeds into the prostate gland. These are effective methods in treating cancer. However, they can cause some side effects to the different areas of the body.
One of the
Prostate Cancer Side Effects is tissue damage. The tissues of the body are very vulnerable to radiation. But only a small percentage of the patients undergoing this kind of therapy experience this kind of effect. The tissues of some organs which are near the prostate like the skin, bladder or rectum are damaged due to the exposure to radioactive materials. When this happens it can create loss of function and may need surgery to cure it.
Radiation therapy for prostate cancer can also cause side effects such as bowel problems like diarrhea, bowel urgency and even hemorrhoids. Since radiation can even reach through the bowels due to its location adjacent to the prostate, the patient undergoing radiation can experience this kind of problem. Radiation does not only affect cancer cells but it also kills the normal cells causing problems on the function of some organs like that of the bowel. Medications are given to treat these side effects.
The male patient receiving radiation therapy also experiences urinary incontinence. This occurs to about 10 percent of those who have this kind of treatment. The sphincter of urinary bladder is damaged which caused leakage and incontinence. Sometimes, after radiation the patient must wear a pad just to keep him from wetting his pants. When this case worsens or does not resolve, the patient will have to undergo surgery and make necessary repair on the damage of the bladder to stop this kind of medical problem.
Another side effect of radiation therapy for prostate cancer is impotence and infertility. Since, the prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system; functions related to male sexuality are reported. There is a problem when it comes to male erection and the patient will even have a problem producing sperm. As mentioned, radiation therapy does not only affect cancer cells but also those which are normal like the sperm. The patient must learn about this because it is a great concern related to his sexual life.
Lastly, the patient will feel weak and fatigue can be experienced for about a few months after the procedure. You need to follow a corresponding diet that will help you get through with this problem. These are the common side effects that a patient experiences after a radiation therapy. But the main goal of this treatment outweighs these minor problems. Patient education is really important so that the patient will know what to do during the procedure and what to expect after the therapy is done.
Radiation therapy for prostate cancer is an effective mode of treatment however there are certain side effects that the patient must learn and the doctors must monitor. They can be further explained at http://prostatecancersideeffects.com/blog/.
5 Common Side Effects of Radiation Therapy For Prostate Cancer
By: scheygen smith
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