Side Effects of Radiation For Prostate Cancer?

I am doing research for a friend who is considering having elective radiation after a radical prostatectomy. I am hoping for those who have had radiation done for prostate cancer to share their experience about the whole treatment and what were some of the side effects you experienced.

Side Effects of Radiation For Prostate Cancer?
I had prostate cancer 3 years ago. I had Proton Radiation at Loma Linda Universty Medical Center in Loma Linda California.. Proton Radiation is relatively new, but very successfull.. It has little to no side effects... and about a 90% cure rate. Which is as good if not better than other treatment options. I feel it is the very best prostate cancer treatment available today.. The reason it has no side effects is due to the fact that 90% of the treatment energy is released at the exact point of treatment.. Therefore it does not destroy surrounding tissue and organs like conventional radiation does.. The folks at Loma Linda have been so successful with it that other hospitals are beginning to offer it.. MD Anderson in Houston started in May of this year.. also offering it are hospitals in Indiana, Florida and Mass,... the one at Harvard I think.. I had mine in California.. and would do it again...They have been doing it so much longer.. Lots of Doctors wont recommend it... because they dont know about it, consider it expermental or they dont benefit financially by sending patients elsewhere..





If you are interested, there is a website called Proton Bob... that gives much more information.. be sure and read the testmonial section of former patients,... also there is now a book recently published by a prostate cancer survivor Robert J. Marckini.. the book is titled... YOU CAN BEAT PROSTATE CANCER.. It outlines all treatment options available plus gives pros and cons..





When I was at Loma Linda getting my treatments, I met several patients who had radical surgery that did not work, many who had the seeds that didnt work.. I would be willing to bet that they were all cured by Proton Radiation.,..they were sure sold on it.. All of them were wishing that they would have had Proton Radiaton instead of what ever they had in the past. If you would like more information, feel free to email me and I will share my info with you via email or phone.. best of luck... I really think this is probably the route your friend should take..Im sure sold on it!!! My computer keeps cutting me off.. 3 rd time Ive done this dang thing.. so no spell check, plus i did it fast... hope you can tell what im trying to say~~!!!!!!!!
Reply:There are two types of radiation therapy treatments for Prostate Cancer. I am giving them below with the side effect of these treatments-





1.External beam radiation treatment uses high-powered X-rays to kill cancer cells. This type of radiation is effective at destroying cancerous cells, but it can also scar adjacent healthy tissue.





Side effects -


* Urinary problems. The most common signs and symptoms are urgency to urinate and frequent urination. These problems usually are temporary and gradually diminish in a few weeks after completing treatment. Long-term problems are uncommon.


* Loose stools, rectal bleeding, discomfort during bowel movements or a sense of needing to have a bowel movement (rectal urgency). In some cases these problems persist for months after treatment, but they improve on their own in most men. If you do have long-term rectal symptoms, medications can help. Rarely, men develop persistent bleeding or a rectal ulcer after radiation. Surgery may be necessary to alleviate these problems.


* Sexual side effects. Radiation therapy doesn't usually cause immediate sexual side effects such as erectile dysfunction, but some men who've had the treatment have sexual problems later in life.





2. Radioactive seeds implanted into the prostate have gained popularity in recent years as a treatment for prostate cancer. The implants, also known as brachytherapy, deliver a higher dose of radiation than do external beams, but over a substantially longer period of time. The therapy is generally used in men with smaller or moderate-sized prostates with small and lower grade cancers.





Side effects -


* Urinary problems. The procedure causes urinary signs and symptoms such as frequent, slow and painful urination in nearly all men. You may require medication to treat these signs and symptoms. Some men need medications or the use of intermittent self-catheterization to help them urinate. Urinary symptoms tend to be more severe and longer lasting with seed implants than with external beam radiation.


* Sexual problems. Some men experience erectile dysfunction due to radioactive seed implants.


* Rectal symptoms. Sometimes this treatment causes loose stools, discomfort during bowel movements or other rectal symptoms. However, rectal symptoms from radioactive seed implants are generally less severe than with external beam radiation.-