| When a patient is first diagnosed with
| |
| | not be so effective at curing more bulky
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| prostate cancer and has had all the
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| | prostate cancers.
|
| relevant tests to check the extent of the
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| | EXTERNAL BEAM RADIOTHERAPY FOR PROSTATE
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| disease he will normally have an
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| | CANCER
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| appointment with his doctor to discuss
| |
| | The majority of men with cancer of the
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| what is best. Prostate cancer treatment
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| | prostate will have this type of radiation
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| will depend on the extent of the cancer
| |
| | treatment. It is given by a machine
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| and on the intent of the treatment. For
| |
| | called a Linear Accelerator. This makes
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| example early prostate cancers will be
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| | high energy X-rays which are good at
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| treated with surgery, radiotherapy or
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| | killing cancer cells. Linear accelerators
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| watchful waiting. Prostate cancer surgery
| |
| | are worked by radiographers who will also
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| is a definite possibility for many men in
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| | help you get into the right position for
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| the early stages of the disease and so
| |
| | your treatment and give you advice during
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| the subject should be discussed with the
| |
| | your treatment.
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| doctor. Late prostate cancers will be
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| | For the treatment the patient has to lie
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| treated with hormone therapy,
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| | on a thin couch, rather like those used
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| radiotherapy, chemotherapy or a mixture
| |
| | in the CT or MRI scanners. The machine
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| of all 3. Often patients will be given a
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| | then moves around the patient to deliver
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| choice of treatments by the doctor and
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| | X-rays from several different angles, all
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| the pros and cons of each option
| |
| | pointing towards the prostate gland. Each
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| explained. There is no best cancer of
| |
| | treatment takes approximately 10 minutes
|
| prostate treatment because the treatment
| |
| | to give, and the full dose of treatment
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| you receive will depend on the extent of
| |
| | is spread out to be given every day over
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| your cancer.
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| | a few weeks. This helps to give a big
|
| PROSTATE CANCER RADIOTHERAPY (COMMONLY
| |
| | enough dose to the prostate to kill the
|
| CALLED PROSTATE CANCER RADIATION
| |
| | cancer whilst reducing the side effects
|
| TREATMENT)
| |
| | of treatment.
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| Many men undergo radiotherapy as it is
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| | To make sure you are in the correct
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| often regarded as the best prostate
| |
| | position and the prostate is being
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| cancer treatment. This may be with the
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| | treated properly either an X-ray picture
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| aim to cure the cancer or to shrink and
| |
| | or more usually an extra CT scan will be
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| control it depending on the stage. Often
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| | taken before treatment starts to locate
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| hormone treatment is given prior to
| |
| | the prostate gland accurately. At this
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| radiation treatment to help reduce the
| |
| | time you will also be given several
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| size of the cancer and improve the rate
| |
| | tattoos (tiny dots on the skin) so that
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| of cure. Small cancers don't need this
| |
| | when you lie on the couch for each
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| hormone pre-treatment.
| |
| | treatment the radiographers can make sure
|
| TYPES OF PROSTATE CANCER RADIOTHERAPY
| |
| | you are lined up properly. This helps to
|
| Radiotherapy is the treatment for cancer
| |
| | make sure the prostate gland is treated
|
| of the prostate with radiation. This is
| |
| | fully and to reduce side effects.
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| most often as X-rays which pass through
| |
| | Patients are not able to feel X-rays or
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| the body and kill the cancer cells in its
| |
| | even be aware that the treatment machine
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| path known as "external beam
| |
| | is on. However as patients go through the
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| radiotherapy". The alternative way to
| |
| | weeks of treatment there are a number of
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| treat the prostate is from within the
| |
| | common side effects that can be expected.
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| body using small radioactive sources
| |
| | Most of these are short term side effects
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| known as "brachytherapy". Brachytherapy
| |
| | which slowly build up through the
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| is only suitable for a small proportion
| |
| | treatment, are worst at or just after the
|
| of men with early prostate cancer and
| |
| | end of treatment and then improve quite
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| with a suitable sized prostate gland. It
| |
| | quickly (within a few weeks). There are
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| has the advantage of slightly fewer side
| |
| | also some long-term or late side effects
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| effects during the treatment but would
| |
| | which can occur.
|
