External beam radiation therapy or radiotherapy is not new-fangled. Electron beam radiotherapy was initially tried in 1915. This beam, the one used in X-Rays was not effective because it caused almost as much damage as it did good.
Proton beam radiotherapy was first suggested in 1946 and was carried out from 1954. This was a lot more successful because it is possible to have more control over the point of impact of the beam. This means less collateral injury to the surrounding healthy \cells.
Besides these technologies there are also other external beams like the neutron beam and the 3D-CRT beam. There are also other more investigational beams and what is known as seed radiation too.
Apart from seed radiation, there is no invasive surgery involved with external beam radiation therapy, there is very little collateral harm and practically no side effect, so you would imagine that this is the best prostate cancer therapy to go for.
However, this is not always true, because there are so many other factors that have to be taken into account. These factors, such as the phase of the cancer, the general health of the patient and the patient's point of view make the assessment a complicated one.
Therefore, if you have questions that have been raised from reading this short article, please take them up with your physician or healthcare provider.
Prostate cancer is like a heavy truck, it can move quickly, but it takes a long time to attain this speed. If you have caught the cancer early, say, in stage one, your physician may decide to 'wait and see'.
This could be unnerving for the patient, but it is a sincere strategy, because not all growths are cancerous and the prostate grows with age anyway. It is better for the doctor to carry out several tests and 'watchful waiting' to have conclusive evidence what the growth is.
The first test will be a rectal examination with a finger (DRE), the doctor may then check your PSA count. PSA stands for 'prostate specific antigen', This antigen is produced by the prostate and some of it passes into the blood.
A small amount is normal, higher amounts might indicate a difficulty and its severity. Age is a factor, but if the degree reaches 10, then more check ups have to be carried out and they might require a biopsy of the prostate to carry them out.
When the medical doctor is certain that you have cancer, then radiation therapy is merely one of the options you have and although you might prefer the sound of it, it may not be the most appropriate treatment in your case.
Radiation treatment is very local in its effect, so if your cancer has not spread, radiation treatment may be used to kill off isolated specks of growth. However, if it has gone further than that, it is likely that a different treatment will be selected
Proton beam radiotherapy was first suggested in 1946 and was carried out from 1954. This was a lot more successful because it is possible to have more control over the point of impact of the beam. This means less collateral injury to the surrounding healthy \cells.
Besides these technologies there are also other external beams like the neutron beam and the 3D-CRT beam. There are also other more investigational beams and what is known as seed radiation too.
Apart from seed radiation, there is no invasive surgery involved with external beam radiation therapy, there is very little collateral harm and practically no side effect, so you would imagine that this is the best prostate cancer therapy to go for.
However, this is not always true, because there are so many other factors that have to be taken into account. These factors, such as the phase of the cancer, the general health of the patient and the patient's point of view make the assessment a complicated one.
Therefore, if you have questions that have been raised from reading this short article, please take them up with your physician or healthcare provider.
Prostate cancer is like a heavy truck, it can move quickly, but it takes a long time to attain this speed. If you have caught the cancer early, say, in stage one, your physician may decide to 'wait and see'.
This could be unnerving for the patient, but it is a sincere strategy, because not all growths are cancerous and the prostate grows with age anyway. It is better for the doctor to carry out several tests and 'watchful waiting' to have conclusive evidence what the growth is.
The first test will be a rectal examination with a finger (DRE), the doctor may then check your PSA count. PSA stands for 'prostate specific antigen', This antigen is produced by the prostate and some of it passes into the blood.
A small amount is normal, higher amounts might indicate a difficulty and its severity. Age is a factor, but if the degree reaches 10, then more check ups have to be carried out and they might require a biopsy of the prostate to carry them out.
When the medical doctor is certain that you have cancer, then radiation therapy is merely one of the options you have and although you might prefer the sound of it, it may not be the most appropriate treatment in your case.
Radiation treatment is very local in its effect, so if your cancer has not spread, radiation treatment may be used to kill off isolated specks of growth. However, if it has gone further than that, it is likely that a different treatment will be selected
About the Author:
Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on a number of subjects, but is currently concerned with the proton prostate cancer treatment. If you want to kcurrently more go to What is the Treatment for Prostate Cancer?
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