radiation treatment for recurrent prostate cancer, risks and side effects
The most common short-term side effects of radiation therapy for prostate cancer include fatigue, slight reddening of the skin in the treatment area, temporary lowering of blood counts, and urinary and bowel side effects. Brachytherapy and radium 223 dichloride may have some additional or different side effects.
Radiation therapy can cause both early (acute) and late (chronic) side effects. Acute side effects occur during treatment, and chronic side effects occur months or even years after treatment ends (1).