Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer

Radiotherapy can be useful against prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most frequent cancer type in men

Almost half of all men over 50 experiences prostate changes. In most cases, this usually involves a benign enlargement. On the other hand, prostate cancer is a malignant tumor disease. Unlike the benign enlargements that can be felt during urination due to their position, malignant prostate cancer evolves in the external region of the prostate. The growth is located far from the urethra and is usually only noticed later. As is the case with other cancer diseases, early screening is very important in prostate cancer when it comes to the chances of healing. Screenings by the urologist must therefore be performed on men from the age of 50. Accounting for around 26 percent of male cancers, prostate cancer is the most frequent cancer disease affecting men.

Without cancer surgery: precise radiotherapy

Depending on the position and the stage of the disease, it may be possible for prostate cancer to be treated with modern radiotherapy. Amongst experts, radiotherapy against prostate cancer has been as successful as the surgical removal of the prostate for the past ten years or so. The most commonly used techniques are IMRT (intensity modulated radiotherapy) or the IGRT technique (image-guided radiation therapy). In the IMRT method, the radiation dose is adapted continuously during the radiation to the different structures of the tissue and the intensity of the beams is modulated. On the other hand, the image-guided radiotherapy is based on the computer-assisted position control of the prostate cancer and the targeted execution of radiation. This allows neighboring organs such as the bladder and colon to be protected. The Radiotherapy Patient System RPS has been designed for both techniques: it enables a clear improvement in safety during radiation, because the patient can be positioned optimally under the linear accelerator. As a matter of fact, the position of the prostate and consequently the prostate cancer moves depending on how the bladder and colon are – sometimes by several centimeters. To account for minimal movements caused by breathing or peristalsis during radiation, the RPS is able to detect and correct changes automatically.

If you or a relative have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, you should seek extensive information and advice about treatment options. If radiation is necessary, do not hesitate to have all technical details clarified. Your safety and optimum comfort during radiotherapy are top priorities for all involved. The Radiotherapy Patient System RPS plays a vital part in this. We would be glad to send you more information via email – send us an email to info@gkteso.de.