Radiotherapy for prostate cancer that has not spread beyond the prostate gland is one of the main treatments available for prostate cancer. It can be delivered in a number of different ways.

The most common is to use high energy x rays which are directed at the affected area (known as external beam radiotherapy). Recently it has become possible in some centres to more closely fit the x ray beam to the shape of the prostate gland (conformal radiotherapy). This may enable a bigger dose to be given to the prostate with less being given to the surrounding normal tissues. Both these approaches will involve a course of treatment, usually as an out-patient, usually each week day from Monday to Friday, lasting from four to six weeks. Each treatment will consists of lying on a bed under a radiotherapy machine (called a linear accelerator) for about 20 minutes. Another way of trying to deliver bigger doses of radiotherapy to the prostate, while sparing the surrounding tissues, is to use radioactive seeds implanted directly into the prostate (brachytherapy). This treatment usually involves at least two visits to hospital, sometimes as an out-patient, sometimes with an overnight stay. At the first visit tests are done to determine the size of the prostate gland. At the second visit radioactive seeds are implanted into the gland. Side effects of radiotherapy include; diarrhoea, cystitis (burning when passing urine), tiredness and sometimes impotence and incontinence. The hope is that the further development of conformal radiotherapy and brachytherapy it will be possible to give more effective treatment with less side effects These last two approaches are relatively new and the long term results are not yet known. They are also only available in a few centres and are not suitable for all men. You doctor will be able to discuss whether any of these approaches may be suitable for you.