Prostate Cancer Radiotherapy Side Effects

Comparing to other several kinds of prostate cancer treatment, radiation therapy is considered to be an effective treatment. Despite the proven advantages and benefits, there are also known prostate cancer radiotherapy side effects due to the very high levels of radiations or x-rays used for killing the cancer cells, thus to burning them to their core which may lead to other medical complications..

Prostate cancer radiotherapy involves channelising radiation to the body parts affected by cancer with the aid of thin plastic tubes. Despite best efforts on the part of doctors, it is inevitable that just the cancer cells get eliminated, healthy cells will also get affected, hence, causing many unwanted side effects.

List of Prostate Cancer Radio therapy Side Effects:

1. Skin becoming swollen, red and sensitive, similar to a sunburned skin. Skin may peeling off or become tender and moist. Skin can gets darken and thicken and enlarged pores are some long-term side effects of radio therapy treatment. The skin can become more sensitive or its sensitivity can be reduced for a long time too.

2. Loss of hair and reduced perspiration on the affected area is also common.

3. Another usual prostate cancer radiation side effects is feeling loss of energy or fatigue. This side effect can be managed by taking adequate rest and regular naps. A sound diet is also beneficial in dealing with radiotherapy related fatigue and exhaustion. However, this symptom goes away after radiation therapy gets completed successfully.

4. Impotence is another chief side effect faced by patients after taking radiation therapy. Damage to the reproductive system leading to erectile dysfunction and urinary symptoms like bleeding, frequency and incontinence in some cases can result from radiation therapy.

5. Nausea and vomiting may also result from radiotherapy treatment.

6. Incontinence and diarrhea can result from the radiation beam passing through the bladder, rectum, intestines and through to the intestine. As the time of beaming of radiation towards prostate’s malignant, urinary bladder may also get exposed to radiation, and get damaged. This can lead to patient’s inability in controlling bowel functions of defecation or urination and the urge to excrete.

Learning about Prostate Cancer Radiotherapy Side Effects will help patients in detecting and treating them effectively, in most cases, by changing their daily schedule. You may also want to know about Prostate Cancer Side Effects After Surgery.