Side Effects of Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer | Prostate Cancer Staging Guide

PCRI’s Executive Director, Mark Scholz, MD, talks about the side effects of radiation therapy for prostate cancer. He compares the side effects of modern radiation therapy against older radiation technology. He gives an overview of what to expect when undergoing radiation therapy.

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0:38 Radiation therapy technology has changed dramatically in the past decade. Past concerns that doctors and patients had about radiation have been resolved. One concern is that the radiation would cause a new cancer, but we now know that this occurs only in extremely rare cases often decades after the treatment, and we are able to detect these types of cancer sooner. Incontinence used to be a concern, but in modern times this side effect is more often associated with radical prostatectomy than with radiation. It is rare to get incontinence from radiation therapy. Intestinal burns were a concern with older radiation therapy, but modern technology is more accurate and FDA approved treatments are available to protect the rectum from radiation.

2:14 Short-term side effects of radiation therapy. Mild to moderate fatigue can be a side effect of radiation therapy. Radiation therapy can cause soreness around the area being treated by radiation. If this side effect becomes intolerable, men will often take a holiday from the radiation treatment and resume at a later date. Long-term radiation protocols can be inconvenient since many forms of radiation have to be administered five days a week for a few months.

3:12 Long-term side effects. Impotence can develop in the long term from radiation therapy. It is common. Occurring in up to 50% of men treated with radiation therapy. After treatment, men will experience dry orgasms since the prostate is what creates semen. Men may become infertile after treatment, although having children through artificial insemination is typically still possible.

4:17 Rare side effects. In rare cases, urethral scarring can occur which can cause a blockage called a urethral stricture. The treatment for this can in some cases cause incontinence. Treatment for strictures should be performed by specialists. The bladder base can get irritated from radiation therapy, and this can cause greater urinary urgency, greater frequency, and waking up in the middle of the night to urinate more often. If these problems are preexisting, they can be made worse by radiation therapy.

5:57 Side effects are less common when the treatment is performed by a competent radiation therapist. It is important to find a good doctor if you choose this treatment for prostate cancer.

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