Prostate cancer radiotherapy is conducted in what way?

Written by Zhou Zi Hua
Oncology
Updated on September 18, 2024
00:00
00:00

Indications for radiation therapy for prostate cancer include clinical stages T1 to T4, M0 to M1. M0-stage prostate cancer patients undergo radiation therapy techniques including external beam radiation and brachytherapy. External beam radiation techniques comprise conventional radiation therapy, three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy, and intensity-modulated radiation therapy. Permanent seed implantation is used only for the treatment of early-stage localized prostate cancer with a good prognosis. External radiation therapy is divided into three categories based on therapeutic objectives: curative, adjuvant, and palliative radiation therapy.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhou Zi Hua
Oncology
51sec home-news-image

Endocrine therapy after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer

Endocrine therapy after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer is equivalent to adjuvant endocrine therapy for prostate cancer. Its purpose is to treat residual lesions, positive residual lymph nodes, and microscopic metastatic foci, thereby improving long-term survival rates. Currently, the indications for adjuvant endocrine therapy are based on postoperative pathology-positive results, positive lymph nodes post-surgery, and postoperative pathology confirmation of stage T3 or T4, but with high-risk factors. According to major guidelines, the duration of adjuvant endocrine therapy should be at least eighteen months.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
34sec home-news-image

What causes prostate cancer?

The causes of prostate cancer are not yet very clear. Its occurrence may be related to gonorrhea of the prostate, or viral and chlamydial infections of the prostate, as well as the intensity of sexual activity and the influence of hormones, which may have some connection to the development of prostate cancer. Additionally, a high-fat diet and some occupational factors, such as excessive exposure to chromium, may also be related to the onset of prostate cancer.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhou Zi Hua
Oncology
57sec home-news-image

Commonly used drugs for endocrine treatment of prostate cancer

The purpose of endocrine therapy for prostate cancer is to reduce the concentration of androgens in the body, inhibit the synthesis of androgens originating from the adrenal glands, inhibit the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, or block the binding of androgens to their receptors, thereby inhibiting or controlling the growth of prostate cancer cells. The medications include a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue, with representative drugs being leuprorelin, goserelin, and triptorelin. There is also an androgen-blocking drug, including steroidal drugs with representative drugs like cyproterone acetate, and non-steroidal drugs with representative drugs like bicalutamide and flutamide. Additionally, there are estrogens, with the most common being diethylstilbestrol.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
53sec home-news-image

Is prostate cancer stage T2 considered early or mid-stage?

Prostate cancer stage T2 is considered early or intermediate, but it is also necessary to understand the patient's N and M status. If the patient is at stage T2, and both N and M are at stage 0, then it is considered early-stage prostate cancer. If the primary lesion is at stage T2, but N1 is present and there is no metastasis (M), then the patient is considered to have intermediate-stage prostate cancer. If the primary lesion is at stage T2, but there is metastasis in N and M, then the patient's clinical stage is considered advanced. The clinical staging of prostate cancer not only requires understanding of the primary lesion T, but also involves the regional lymph nodes N and distant metastasis M.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhou Zi Hua
Oncology
31sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of bone metastasis from prostate cancer?

Bone metastasis is the most common site of metastasis for prostate cancer, with the lumbar vertebrae being the most common site. Eighty percent of bone metastases in prostate cancer are osteoblastic changes. The main symptoms caused by bone metastasis are bone pain, pathological fractures, anemia, and if the spinal cord is compressed, it can cause paralysis of the lower limbs, weakness, incontinence, and other symptoms.