Radiation therapy, or radiotherapy, is noninvasive and painless. Radiation treatment kills prostate cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy cells. Several radiation techniques are used to treat prostate cancer:
External Beam Radiation Therapy: High-energy X-rays are produced by a machine called a linear accelerator and aimed at the prostate from outside the body. Modern techniques such as ARC therapy, IMRT, and TruBeam precisely target and deliver radiation to the prostate and surrounding high-risk tissues while minimizing the dose to normal tissue. During treatment, the accelerator is turned to the correct angle, and the beam is shaped according to the patient’s prostate shape and size. After treatment is given through one location, the accelerator is turned to a different angle, and this process is repeated until the prostate gland has been crossfired from multiple directions. After the daily treatment is finished, which usually takes less than 10 minutes, the patient can return to normal daily activities. Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy: Our radiation oncologists also offer a more advanced approach called hypofractionated radiation therapy that gives the same dose of radiation in a shorter time period. The shorter course of treatment is made possible through the more advanced delivery methods used with this method of radiation. The technology precisely aims the rays of radiation where the cancerous cells are treated with a higher dose while sparing nearby organs and tissues.The same results can be achieved in a 4-5 week course of radiation therapy, rather than 6-8 weeks, by giving a higher dose of radiation at each treatment. The exact number of treatment sessions depends on where the cancer is located, its size, and the patient’s overall health condition. Brachytherapy: This type of treatment delivers internal radiation through radioactive “seeds” that are placed directly into or near the tumor. Brachytherapy allows a controlled dose of radiation within a specific region, allowing more radiation where needed while protecting normal tissue. Combination of Therapies: Sometimes, a combination of external beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy is the best treatment choice for intermediate or higher-risk cancers.
Your radiation oncologist will explain what type of radiation treatment would be the best fit for you. Cancer Care Centers of Brevard offers radiation therapy for prostate cancer treatment across Brevard County, including Melbourne, Merritt Island, and Palm Bay, Florida, so that it’s convenient for local residents to receive this type of cancer treatment.