Nerve sparing radical prostatectomy

State-of-the-art external beam radiotherapy

Seed Brachytherapy

Patient Information For High Dose Rate Hdr Prostate Brachytherapy

Hormonal therapy

Prostatic cryotherapy

Systemic chemotherapy

Radioactive intravenous Strontium

Access to state-of-the-art clinical trial

Patient Information for Radiotherapy

Targeted Alpha Therapy

Pain relief for metastatic bone disease

State-of-the-art external beam radiotherapy

External beam radiotherapy to the prostate gland and/or pelvis is well established as a curative option for men with early stage prostate cancer. In the last decade, 3-Dimensional (3-D) conformal radiotherapy has emerged as a significant advance in external radiotherapy technique with improved cancer free survival and reduced side effects over the conventional radiotherapy programs of the 1960s to 1980s. The introduction of Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) will allow even higher doses of external beam radiotherapy to be delivered safely.
In patients with prostate cancer, external beam radiotherapy can be delivered as a curative option in its own right, or in addition to brachytherapy treatments. In some patients who have had radical prostatectomy, external beam radiotherapy is being administered more frequently to patients where there is a possibility of incomplete surgical removal of the prostate cancer, or in situations where the PSA level rises slowly following prostatectomy.
Although using the 3-D conformal technique reduces side effects from external radiation, these patients can nevertheless experience bothersome urinary and bowel symptoms. External radiation can also affect erections and sexuality.
External beam radiotherapy is delivered using a linear accelerator that emits a high energy x-ray (photon) beam. The beam is targeted at the entire prostate gland, and treatments are given on a daily basis for a period of 6 to 7 weeks. The duration of radiotherapy is approximately 10 minutes each day.
External beam radiotherapy has an excellent cure rate for men with early stage prostate cancer and it is well tolerated. Hospitalisation is not required and there are no life-threatening complications of treatment. When compared to radical prostatectomy, the risk of impotence is generally believed to be approximately the same. The risk of significant rectal incontinence is less than 1%, and urinary incontinence as a result of external beam radiotherapy is rare.

Questions to ask your Radiation Oncologist