External Beam Radiation Therapy Side Effects Prostate Cancer

The side effects of external beam radiation therapy tend to be less severe than the side effects of other prostate cancer treatments.

External beam radiation therapy side effects prostate cancer.

Possible side effects specifically related to external radiation. Lymphedema fluid collects in the legs or genital area. Radiation is a local cancer treatment option with local side effects in the area being treated. External radiation or external beam radiation is the most common type of radiation therapy used for cancer treatment.

Radiation technology allows the very careful delivery of external beam radiation therapy. Fatigue skin reaction loss of appetite hair loss in your pubic area nausea diarrhea problems during urinating problems during urinating and other such urine problems can be reduced using a prostate. Blood in your urine. Doctors will often use external radiation therapy for prostate cancer patients who want to avoid the risks of surgery.

Because the prostate is surrounded by the bladder and the rectum most of the side effects of external beam radiation are related to bladder and rectum irritation. Frequent urination difficult or painful urination blood in the urine urinary leakage abdominal cramping diarrhea painful bowel movements rectal bleeding rectal leaking fatigue sexual dysfunction including. Skin reactions similar to a sunburn secondary cancers in the radiated area. External beam radiation therapy with androgen deprivation therapy in which radiation is paired with medications to lower levels of male hormones which can stimulate prostate cancer growth.

Potential side effects of external beam radiation therapy for prostate cancer may include. Rectal bleeding or leakage. The men who received surgery saw an immediate steep drop off in their erectile function compared with men who received other types of treatment. Below is a list of possible short term side effects.