Photon Radiation Treatment for Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is characterized by the rampant proliferation of cells lining the prostate gland. The National Cancer Institute says nearly 193,000 new cases are diagnosed annually in the United States. Early diagnosis and administration of effective treatments like radiation, chemotherapy and surgery often helps in treating this form of cancer.

Photon Radiation Therapy

• Photon therapy is a type of radiation therapy which involves irradiating the cancerous cells with high energy photons (units of light energy). The photons penetrate through the skin layers and help in destroying the cancer cells, thus preventing their metastasis or spreading to other parts of the body.

Benefits

• Photon therapy is a non-invasive treatment form and hence is mostly beneficial to the elderly patients suffering from prostate cancer, and also to those who cannot undergo surgical treatment for the removal of the cancer cells.

Time Frame

• Photon therapy sessions are usually held two or three times every week for a month or two. However, the duration may vary depending on the internal metastasis of the malignant cells.

Effects

• Urinary difficulties, diarrhea, passing of blood along with the urine, pain during urination are some of the side effects you might experience after photon therapy for treating prostate cancer.

Warnings

• Doctors might recommend you to reduce exposure to the sun and environmental pollutants while undergoing radiation therapy.