Men Continue To Have Normal Life After Radiation For Prostate Cancer

[Caution]

Men Continue To Have Normal Life After Radiation For Prostate Cancer

Men receiving radiation therapy to combat early-stage prostate cancer are still able to achieve an erection and face a low rate of incontinence one year following treatment, according to a new study published in the July 15, 2005 issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, the official journal of ASTRO, the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

Researchers enrolled 98 men from 24 institutions and set out to gauge the health-related quality of life in patients receiving low-dose rate prostate brachytherapy, a form of internal radiation therapy in which tiny radioactive seeds are implanted directly into the prostate gland to battle the cancer.

Patients were given three separate health-related quality of life questionnaires a total of five times before, during and after undergoing radiation therapy to allow researchers to evaluate what effect their treatment was having on them. The two most important side effects studied were sexual and urinary function.

The study reports that one year after receiving treatment, 78 percent of the men were able to achieve an erection, both with and without assistance. However, nearly 50 percent of the men did experience some loss of sexual function, such as reduced desire, activity and satisfaction as well as fatigue.

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http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/07/050718063416.htm

[SteppingRazor]

1. Just reduced desire, activity, and satisfaction...

with very rare erectile dysfunction. So, essentially, this study shows us that the effects of radiation on prostate cancer are about the same as smoking weed? :evilgrin:

[Caution]

2. well...considering one of the treatments for combatting side

effects from radiation therapy...

One has to wonder if they factored weed into the equation when determining side effects. :evilgrin: