External Beam Therapy Radiation Radiation is considered the treatment of choice in men with localized prostate cancer who have significant health problems indicating a life expectancy of less than 10-15 years or who are over the age of 70. It is also appropriate for those younger men who for one reason or another cannot or will not have surgery. Radiation can be delivered by external beam or by interstitial implantation of radioactive seeds under precise ultrasound guidance.
All radiation is done on an outpatient basis.
External beam therapy External beam radiotherapy is delivered at MUSC by precise three dimensional techniques to minimize radiation effect in the adjacent rectum and bladder. External beam therapy is given on an outpatient basis 5 days weekly for about 7 or 8 weeks. The 10 year survival is roughly equivalent to surgery. This makes radiation therapy an attractive option for older men or those with limited life expectancy. It is not ideal for men likely to live longer than 15 years.