Fatigue , which occurs toward the end of treatment, may last for several weeks after treatment is completed. Temporary skin changes , including redness, dryness, scaling and itchiness of the treated area, usually occur one to two weeks after your treatment begins and may last one to two weeks after your last treatment. The following late effects may occur after treatment ends. Radiation proctitis , or radiation injury to the rectal wall, occurs in 1.5 to 3 percent of men who undergo 3D conformal radiation therapy. Symptoms include rectal bleeding, usually painless, or painful rectal spasms.
Radiation proctitis is treated with hydrocortisone enemas or suppositories.
Symptoms include blood in the urine . Incontinence occurs very rarely when there are no symptoms of incontinence prior to radiation therapy. Erectile dysfunction occurs when radiation thickens the walls of blood vessels, limiting the blood supply to the nerves responsible for erections. The condition occurs gradually, two to five years after treatment ends. The chance of erectile dysfunction after radiation therapy may be as high as 30 to 40 percent in men younger than 65, and 50 percent in men 65 and older.