Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer – Oncologist Explains


 

 

Radiation therapy is a treatment that uses high-energy rays or particles to kill prostate cancer cells. Radiation can be supplied in a variety of ways, including brachytherapy (in which seeds are implanted in the patient's body) and external beam radiation (in which energy is projected through the skin). Prostate cancer radiation therapy is best given by a skilled radiation oncologist in Kolkata working in advanced cancer treatment facilities.

Radiation Therapy Uses

Radiation therapy can be used to:

  • Treat early-stage prostate cancer as well as more advanced tumours that have migrated outside the prostate

  • Provide combinational therapy with other treatments like hormone deprivation

  • Treat recurrent prostate cancer after surgery

  • Reduce the size of the tumour and enhance survival and quality of life in men with limited spreading (oligometastatic) prostate cancer

  • Reduce the chance of fractures by slowing cancer growth

  • Palliate symptoms for advanced cancer discomfort

Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer: What Are the Different Types?

External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT)

 

This is the most popular and painless type of radiation therapy. X-ray beams are focused on the cancerous spots throughout each treatment session. Oncologists can adjust the dosage intensity and radiation beams to better deliver high doses of radiation to tumour cells while delivering lesser doses to healthy tissues in the surrounding area.

 

Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)

 

External beam radiation delivered by linear accelerators is a sophisticated form of external beam radiation (LINACS). Oncologist in Kolkata can adjust the strength and form of radiation beams to better focus radiation to the prostate while limiting exposure to surrounding bladder and rectal tissue.

 

Proton Beam Therapy (PBT)

 

Proton treatment is an alternative to EBRT that is becoming increasingly popular now that more centres with the necessary equipment are available. The procedure has progressed from a passive scattering method to scanning proton beam therapy.

 

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)

 

SBRT (or SABR) uses modern imaging techniques to deliver massive doses of radiation to a specific location in a short amount of time. The names of the equipment that provide the radiation are widely used to refer to SBRT.

 

Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)

 

The use of daily imaging to monitor the position of the tumour target is referred to as IGRT. This usually entails a low-dose X-ray (kV) or a CT scan (cone beam CT). Gold or platinum fiducial markers may be implanted in the prostate before therapy for some patients.

 

Brachytherapy

 

Seed implantation, interstitial radiation therapy, and internal radiation therapy are the different terms used to describe brachytherapy. Tiny radioactive seeds (approximately 0.8 millimetres thick and 4.5 millimetres long) are implanted by the best radiation oncologist in Kolkata into the prostate using needles that enter the skin slightly behind the scrotum for permanent (low dosage rate) brachytherapy. For several months, the seeds emit radiation that kills cancer cells in the local vicinity, until the radioactivity fades.

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