What are the possible side effects of EBRT when used to treat prostate cancer?
The principal side effects of EBRT are limited to the area receiving radiation. Because EBRT without the guidance of technology such as GPS for the Body® cannot be targeted precisely to only the prostate, healthy tissue around the prostate can be damaged. Gold markers or skin marks (tattoos) guide the radiation oncologist to where your prostate is at the time when the radiation begins. The problem is that even if you remain perfectly still during radiation, your organs naturally move, which can lead to inaccurate targeting. As a result, the radiation treatment hits less of the cancer and more of the healthy tissue around it. Common side effects of EBRT for prostate cancer include the following. • Bowel problems: During and after treatment with external beam radiation therapy, you may have soft stools, rare blood in the stool; urgent bowels; or an irritated large intestine. Most of these problems go away over time, but in rare cases normal bowel function does not return after treatment
