Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer
Gay, H.A.; Michalski, J.M.
Missouri Medicine 115(2): 146-150
2018
ISSN/ISBN: 0026-6620 PMID: 30228707 Document Number: 695123
Annually, there are nearly 3000 new cases and 500 deaths from prostate cancer in Missouri. When treatment is appropriate and necessary, radiotherapy offers similar cure rates to prostatectomy, with fewer long-term sexual side effects and little effect on urinary continence. Radiotherapy is delivered with external beam or implanted radioactive sources (brachytherapy). In high-risk disease, combinations of external beam and brachytherapy offers improved biochemical control. Following prostatectomy, salvage radiotherapy should be initiated as soon as possible.