But it sometimes comes at a high price. Surgical techniques to spare prostatic nerves have improved considerably over the years. But some men are still left impotent. Others face urinary incontinence and end their lives in diapers. I tend to agree with some doctors who believe these complications are under-reported.
External radiation is another option.
This involves short, powerful bursts of radiation over a two-month period. In some areas of North America it's the fastest-growing method of treatment of prostatic cancer. But unlike external radiation, it is delivered directly to the prostate gland. Dozens of tiny radioactive seeds are implanted in the prostate gland. The rationale is that radioactive material provides a constant dose of radiation to the malignancy.