Healthy tissue also is exposed to the radiation. To reduce the negative effects on normal tissue, treatment are spread out over a relatively long period of time. Each treatment takes only 10 to 20 minutes and includes the time required to position the patient and deliver the radiation. The urologist and a radiation oncologist work together closely in planning the radiation therapy. Sophisticated treatment planning techniques are used to design treatment that allows the cancer to receive the greatest dose of radiation while sparing as much health tissue as possible.
Radiation has fewer side effects and often is better tolerated than surgery.
The most common side effects are irritation to skin and tissues around the radiation site and discomfort with urination and bowel movements. This technique is called brachytherapy. With the patient under anesthesia, an ultrasound probe is inserted into the patient's rectum which allows the urologist and the radiation oncologist to see the prostate on a television monitor. The seeds are placed throughout the prostate using a needle that is inserted through the perineal area. The needle location can be seen on the ultrasound picture and allows the urologist and radiation oncologist to place the seeds very precisely in the prostate according to a planning map developed specifically for the patient.