Side Effects Of External Beam Radiation Therapy For Prostate Cancer

Webmd explains the use of radiation therapy for prostate cancer including internal and external radiation therapy how radiation therapy is performed side effects risks and more.

Side effects of external beam radiation therapy for prostate cancer. The side effects of external beam radiation therapy tend to be less severe than the side effects of other prostate cancer treatments. It is used to treat early stages of cancer and helps to relieve you from symptoms such as pain. Radiation therapy has long been a staple of treatment for many types of cancers. When it comes to prostate cancer there are two kinds of radiation treatment.

Doctors will often use external radiation therapy for prostate cancer patients who want to avoid the risks of surgery. A machine is used to aim high energy rays or beams from outside the body into the tumor. Types of radiation therapy for prostate cancer external beam radiation therapy ebrt in this type of therapy a machine outside the body is used to focus the beams of radiation on the prostate gland. Healthy cells in the beam s path also are affected by external beam radiation therapy resulting in side effects.

External beam radiation for prostate cancer kills cancer cells by destroying the genetic material that controls how cells grow and divide.