Prostate Cancer, Advanced Or Metastatic: Other Treatment

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Other Treatment

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy for prostate cancer may be used alone or combined with hormone treatment. In rare cases, it is used with surgery. It is most effective in treating cancers that have not spread beyond the prostate, but it can also be effective in treating cancer that is only in the tissue near the prostate (locally advanced prostate cancer). Radiation therapy also is used to relieve pain from metastatic cancer or cancer that comes back after surgery.

Radiation therapy for locally advanced prostate cancer is often combined with hormone treatment. Using both together improves your chances of being disease-free for longer and living longer.⁶

• External-beam radiation therapy uses a large machine to aim a beam of radiation at your tumor to destroy cancer cells. The radiation damages the genetic material of the cells so that they can't grow. Although radiation damages normal cells as well as cancer cells, the normal cells can repair themselves and function, while the cancer cells cannot. If cancer has spread to your bones, radiation treatment may be given to specific areas to relieve pain.

Side effects

Radiation treatment commonly has side effects, including urinary incontinence, inflammation of the bladder and colon (colitis), diarrhea, and erection problems.

Side effects are common. Some men develop long-term problems that may have a significant impact on the quality of their lives. Long-term problems that can be caused by radiation treatment include:

• An irritated rectum and an urgent need to pass a stool. This is called proctitis.
• An inflamed bladder and urination problems. This is called cystitis.
• An inflamed intestine and diarrhea. This is called enteritis.
• Being unable to have an erection. This is called impotence.
• Being unable to control urination. This is called incontinence.
• Painful urination. This is called dysuria.

Complementary therapy

Complementary therapies, such as acupuncture, herbs, biofeedback, meditation, yoga, and vitamins, are sometimes used along with medical treatment. Some people feel that they benefit from some of these therapies.

Before you try a complementary therapy, talk to your doctor about the possible value and potential side effects. Let your doctor know if you are already using any such therapies. Complementary therapies are not meant to take the place of standard medical treatment, but they may improve your quality of life and help you deal with the stress and side effects of cancer treatment.

Clinical trials

Clinical trials are ongoing to find ways to prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat prostate cancer. For example, scientists are testing vaccines that use the immune system to keep cancer from getting worse. Other studies are testing on-and-off hormone therapy for men who have advanced prostate cancer. Hormone therapy lasts until cancer growth stops, then begins again when the cancer progresses. These trials hope to prove that men can avoid some of the side effects of continuous hormone therapy and still receive treatment that will block cancer growth.¹⁹ If you are interested in taking part in this type of trial, contact the U.S. National Cancer Institute Clinical Trials Support Unit (www.ctsu.org).

Last updated:	July 01, 2008
Author:	Bets Davis, MFA
Reviewed By:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine, Christopher G. Wood, MD, FACS - Urology/Oncology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC