Stay informed on the ‘Advances in Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer’. Cutting-edge developments like Image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) are revolutionizing the field, allowing for precise targeting of cancerous regions while mitigating side effects. For those with high-risk prostate cancer, doctors often recommend a combined approach of surgery and radiation, like pelvic lymphadenectomy or transurethral resection of the prostate. In tandem, exploring natural prostate remedies can be beneficial in holistic healing and overall well-being.
IMRT
IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy) is an advanced type of radiation treatment that allows your cancer to be more precisely targeted with higher doses of radiation going straight to its tumor while less radiation reaches healthy organs and tissues nearby, increasing chances of cure while decreasing side effects such as dry mouth or throat discomfort.
Your radiation team can use three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to create custom images of your cancer and surrounding tissues for use by radiation oncologists in planning an intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment plan, selecting specific beam directions, aperture shapes and intensity levels.
For certain cancers, IMRT can also be used to reduce radiation dose to nearby structures like eyes, brain and bowel. Head and neck cancer patients treated with IMRT may experience reduced side effects like dry mouth – helping them feel more comfortable eating and drinking. Furthermore, abdominal cancers such as stomach or bowel can also benefit from using this form of treatment by decreasing damage risk to bladder or bowel.
SBRT
SBRT is an extremely precise form of radiation therapy that precisely targets one area of cancer. This therapy has been successfully utilized for treating various tumors located within the lung, spine and liver as well as treating metastatic sites where cancer has spread (metastases).
SBRT relies on computed tomography (CT) scans to create 3-dimensional (3-D) images of tumors, which allow physicians to deliver high doses of radiation directly onto them while protecting nearby normal tissue from damage.
Limit or adjust for movement of the tumour when breathing is done using techniques such as respiratory-correlated CT scans, frameless stereotactic patient setup and internal coordinates (either directly visualizing target organ or surrogate anatomical structures/fiducial markers).
Since this treatment aims for high doses at the site of the tumor and then slowly fades outward, those receiving this method typically experience few side effects. If a tumour occurs in the lungs, patients may become tired and cough up some mucus; should this persist they should consult their physician about it.
3D-CRT
Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D CRT) uses imaging technologies to generate three-dimensional images of tumors and surrounding organs and structures, then directs radiation beams toward those areas without harming healthy tissue, potentially shrinking and killing tumors while decreasing side effects.
At your treatment session, you lie on a table while a machine moves around you to provide radiation therapy to the target areas. Radiation therapists will use supports made during planning to help keep you still during radiation delivery; any movements could impact its accuracy; for example, breathing patterns could alter how much of your lungs and heart were exposed.
Comparative to 3D-CRT, IMRT and VMAT more accurately target their radiation dose to match that of the tumor, using multiple fields with variable intensities to spare normal tissue while improving outcomes and reduce risks of side effects for patients with mesothelioma. These advanced radiation treatments may significantly improve outcomes while simultaneously decreasing risks.
Proton Beam Therapy
Proton beam therapy utilizes protons – subatomic particles with radioactivity – to administer radiation that targets cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. Protons travel more slowly than their X-ray counterparts, thereby causing less collateral damage in surrounding organs.
Since proton beam therapy is relatively new, long-term results are yet to become evident. However, one recent study concluded that proton beam therapy significantly reduced the number of patients experiencing serious side effects compared to conventional radiation treatment.
Treatment sessions generally last an hour and eight-week sessions will typically occur five days per week in a clinic setting. You may need additional CT or MRI scans prior to beginning treatment so the radiation team can best target your prostate using computer programs.
Proton beam therapy isn’t widely utilized due to its cost and limited insurance coverage; further, lack of coverage prevents patient participation in clinical trials that would test its efficacy, thus hindering its development and use.
Brachytherapy
Brachytherapy directs radiation directly at a tumor in your body, often used as an additional approach alongside external beam radiotherapy to treat cancer of the prostate or other cancers such as those affecting cervix, womb or head and neck.
Nuclear medicine therapy utilizes hollow tubes (catheters) or needles containing radioactive sources that are implanted under general anesthesia into your body to deliver higher doses of radiation directly to cancerous tissues in smaller areas than traditional external beam therapy treatments.
Your doctor may use low-dose rate (LDR) or high-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy treatments for your prostate cancer, with LDR implants remaining in place for one to seven days and you spending time in hospital during this timeframe. They’ll use medical imaging technology to position their seeds.
Under HDR brachytherapy, multiple treatments will take place over two days in hospital under general anesthesia. Your physician will insert temporary applicators that emit radiation bursts every ten minutes for this type of brachytherapy therapy.