| Prostate cancer is deadly to men over fifty, and is | | | | linear accelerator to send beams of radioactive |
| often so slow to really develop that it's not noticed | | | | particles firing directly at the prostate. The latest |
| until it's too late to remove by normal surgery. | | | | techniques enable the beam to match the shape of |
| Although prostate cancer can be prevented by | | | | the prostate so that other tissue isn't damaged. |
| normal routine checkups and a healthy low-stress | | | | Usually, beam therapy is done over a period of |
| lifestyle, it's still possible for any male to develop | | | | several weeks daily. There are fewer side effects |
| prostate cancer. Because of this, prostate cancer | | | | with newer forms of prostate cancer radiation |
| radiation treatment is one of the most common | | | | therapy, however. |
| methods of treating prostate cancer, and it's | | | | Brachytherapy, however, is done by infusing a series |
| effective for the most part. However, it isn't perfect. | | | | of small rods with radiation and inserting them into |
| Before getting prostate cancer radiation treatment, | | | | the cancerous tissue. These rods act as a permanent |
| it's best to know how the treatment works. | | | | emitter of low-grade radiation. The X-rays are only |
| The Alternative to Prostate Cancer Surgery | | | | able to travel a short distance, so there's little chance |
| Prostate cancer radiation treatment is also called | | | | of damage to the other surrounding tissues of the |
| radiotherapy or chemotherapy, and is used when | | | | body. This treatment tends to have a better |
| surgery fails or during any stage of the cancer. This | | | | outcome as far as preventing recurring cancer. Also, |
| works by sending a wave of ionized radioactive | | | | there's little chance of the radiation being exposed to |
| particles. This radiation is absorbed into cells, which | | | | other men. |
| mutates the DNA and increases the likelihood of that | | | | Prostate cancer radiation treatment is most |
| cell dying. There are two main types of prostate | | | | commonly used in men who wouldn't really be able to |
| cancer radiation treatment - beam therapy and | | | | have surgery safely. Prostate cancer radiation |
| brachytherapy. Radiation treatment is the most | | | | treatment is one of the most effective methods of |
| commonly used method for treating prostate cancer | | | | treatment for prostate cancer, but there are some |
| aside from surgery. | | | | side effects, such as hair loss, sickness and overall |
| Beam therapy is done by placing the patient into a | | | | loss of energy. |