Radiotherapy - in radiation treatment, high energy rays kill the cancer cells. This will help destroy the original tumour and also reduces the pain caused by tumour cells which have spread to the bones. Hormone therapy - since the growth of prostate cancer cells depends on the male hormone testosterone, drugs can be used to reduce the levels of testosterone in the blood. This stops or slows down the growth of the tumour. However, some prostate tumours go on to develop the ability to grow without testosterone.
Radiotherapy causes general side-effects such as tiredness, diarrhoea and nausea.
These will all go away after the treatment has finished. Almost all patients receiving hormone therapy experience impotence while the treatment is being taken. Hot flushes, tiredness and weight gain are also common, but will cease when the treatment stops. The Good news is Prostate Cancer Need not be a death Sentence. Early diagnosis is so important and there is a great deal all men can do to safeguard their health.