In Australia, there are about as many men with prostate cancer treated with external beam radiotherapy (“beam therapy”) as those treated with radical prostatectomy. External beam radiation uses large, sophisticated “linear accelerators” which target radiation beams precisely at the prostate and surrounding tissue. Radiation treatment is suitable for most stages of prostate cancer, although the exact techniques and combinations with other modalities varies, depending on the stage and aggressiveness of the disease. Before a course of radiation treatment commences, it is carefully planned using a CT scanner and a computer which designs the precise radiation fields.

A modern CT scanner at the WBRC, used to help plan prostate cancer treatment with external beam

Treatment is typically conducted daily (weekdays) over a six or seven week period. Treatment sessions last 15 to 20 minutes. Radiation treatment is painless. In fact, men undergoing radiation treatment do not feel any sensation. Typical side effects of treatment are mild general tiredness, and inflammation of the bladder and bowel. This can cause irritation, frequent urination, and some diarrhoea, particularly towards the end of radiation treatment. These side effects usually settle down within a month of treatment. Long term, there is a small but definite risk of symptoms caused by radiation damage to the bowel or bladder. Men treated with radiation can also experience erectile dysfunction, but this is more common after surgery.