What should you know about photon therapy for prostate cancer?

Before treatment, imaging is used to map the prostate, bladder, rectum and surrounding tissues. The team creates a position and beam plan that accounts for these structures. Photon beams are delivered by a machine outside the body and do not leave radioactivity behind. Treatment may be considered as the main local treatment, after an operation, or alongside hormone treatment, depending on the cancer’s features and whether it has spread.

Possible effects include tiredness, urinary frequency or urgency, bowel changes, and sexual difficulties. Many people have few symptoms early in a course, while some effects can appear later. Your team can discuss prevention, monitoring and treatment of these problems.

Tell the team about previous prostate procedures, urinary symptoms, bowel disease, medicines and implanted devices. Difficulty passing urine deserves attention before planning because swelling around the prostate can make urination harder. Follow instructions about bladder and bowel preparation if your centre uses them, since a consistent internal position helps the planned beams reach the intended area.

Compare photon therapy with brachytherapy, surgery and other options in the context of your diagnosis. The Prostate Cancer, Radiotherapy, Brachytherapy and Prostate Removal Surgery pages provide related background.

Contact the care team promptly if you cannot pass urine, develop severe burning when urinating, see significant blood in urine or stool, have persistent diarrhoea, or develop fever with urinary symptoms. Seek urgent help for severe pain, confusion, fainting or inability to drink. Report new symptoms rather than waiting for the next appointment; some problems can be managed more easily when addressed early.

What is the goal of treatment in my case? How will bladder and rectal position be managed? What urinary, bowel and sexual changes should I expect? How might this plan affect later surgery or other treatment? What support is available if symptoms develop?