After Effects of IMR Radiation Treatment for Prostate Cancer

IMR radiation treatment is "intensely modified radiation treatment" and is usually abbreviated as IMRT. IMRT is commonly used in the treatment of prostate cancer. It is believed that the higher the dosage of radiation given to a patient for this treatment, the better chance the patient will have of conquering prostate cancer. As with any type of medical treatment, there is the potential of negative after effects.

Potential

• Research findings by the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology have shown that men deal with less long-term gastrointestinal side effects caused by IMRT than they do with 3D CRT (three dimensional/conformal radiation) therapy for prostate cancer treatment.

Long-term Outcome

• Studies conducted by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center have shown that men who had prostate cancer and were treated with hig- dosage IMRT treatment stayed healthy and alive (showing absolutely no remnants of prostate cancer disease) after a follow-up period of about eight years. These men were disease-free and did not develop any type of secondary cancers as a result of the initial prostate cancer.

Considerations

• Research conducted by the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York has shown that the higher the dose of radiation given to prostate cancer patients via IMRT, the lower the chance of them having to deal with the long-term after effect of urinary problems.

Common Side Effects

• The traditional common side effects and after effects of IMRT are very similar to those of traditional radiation therapy. These possible effects include fatigue, sense of taste changing, appetite loss, hair loss in the scalp area, nausea, vomiting (to a lesser extent) and fluid buildup behind the ears.

Warning

• The most serious possible long-term after effect associated with IMRT and other radiation therapies is a slow decline in various brain functions. Many people think of this as a memory issue when it starts coming on. The area of the brain that was irradiated and the radiation dose both influence this after effect.