Radiation Therapy for Urologic Cancers

How Is Radiation Therapy Used for Different Urologic Cancers?

Radiation therapy does not have the same role in every urologic cancer. For some cancers it can be a primary treatment, while for others it is used only in selected clinical situations. Treatment recommendations depend on the type and stage of cancer, its location, previous treatment and the overall goals of care.

What Is Radiation Treatment Like?

External beam radiation therapy itself is generally not felt while the radiation is being delivered. Patients are carefully positioned for each treatment, and imaging may be used to confirm alignment before radiation delivery begins. The time spent receiving radiation is typically only part of each appointment, with additional time used for positioning, imaging and other preparation.

The number and frequency of treatments vary considerably. Some radiation treatment plans are delivered over several weeks, while modern hypofractionated and stereotactic approaches can allow selected cancers to be treated in fewer sessions. The appropriate schedule depends on the cancer, treatment area, radiation technique and individual clinical circumstances.

Possible Side Effects of Radiation Therapy

Side effects depend largely on the part of the body being treated, the radiation dose and treatment schedule, and whether radiation is combined with other therapies. For radiation involving the pelvis, temporary urinary frequency or urgency, bowel changes and fatigue can occur during treatment. Some effects may develop or persist after treatment, including changes in urinary, bowel or sexual function.

Your radiation oncology team will explain the side effects most relevant to your treatment plan and monitor symptoms throughout treatment and follow-up.

Radiation Treatment Planning and Simulation

Every course of radiation therapy begins with detailed treatment planning. Imaging is used to identify the treatment area and nearby organs and tissues that should receive as little radiation exposure as reasonably possible. The radiation oncologist, medical physicist, dosimetrist and radiation therapists work together to translate the physician’s prescription into an individualized treatment plan.

SpaceOAR™ Hydrogel for Prostate Radiation Therapy

Because the rectum lies immediately behind the prostate, limiting radiation exposure to the rectum is an important consideration when planning prostate radiation therapy. For appropriate patients, a temporary hydrogel spacer may be placed between the prostate and rectum before radiation treatment begins.

SpaceOAR™ Hydrogel creates additional separation between these structures, which can reduce the amount of radiation received by the rectum during prostate treatment. Clinical studies have demonstrated reductions in rectal radiation exposure and some bowel-related side effects, although use of a hydrogel spacer does not eliminate the possibility of radiation-related side effects.

The spacer is designed to remain temporarily during the radiation treatment period and is gradually absorbed by the body. Whether SpaceOAR™ is appropriate depends on the individual patient, anatomy and planned radiation treatment.

Is Radiation Therapy Right for Me?

Whether radiation therapy is appropriate depends on the type of urologic cancer, its stage and location, previous treatment, overall health and the goals of care. For some patients, radiation may provide an alternative to surgery. For others, it may be recommended together with systemic therapy, after surgery, or when cancer has returned or spread.

Understanding these differences is especially important because there is rarely a single treatment approach that is right for every patient. Your care team can help you compare the expected benefits, potential side effects and long-term considerations of radiation therapy with other appropriate treatment options.

Multidisciplinary Urologic Cancer Care at Providence Saint John’s

At Providence Saint John’s Health Center, urologists, urologic oncologists, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists and other specialists collaborate when a patient may benefit from more than one type of cancer treatment. This allows surgery, radiation therapy, systemic treatment and other approaches to be considered together rather than as separate decisions.

Our goal is to develop a treatment strategy appropriate for both the cancer and the individual patient, with attention to cancer control, urinary and sexual function, recovery and quality of life.