Is prostate cancer radiotherapy painful?

Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
Updated on April 05, 2025
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Prostate cancer radiotherapy involves high doses of radiation, which typically results in related side effects. However, the severity of these side effects varies from patient to patient depending on individual factors such as their physical constitution. Therefore, clinically, some patients may experience severe symptoms, while others may have milder symptoms, indicating significant individual differences. Common side effects of radiotherapy include radiation cystitis, characterized by frequent urination, urgency, and possibly hematuria. Radiation proctitis is also common, presenting symptoms such as a sensation of heaviness around the anus and diarrhea. Additionally, bone marrow suppression, manifesting as a decrease in white blood cells and platelets, is another side effect.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Best treatment methods for prostate cancer

Treatment methods for prostate cancer include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and endocrine therapy, among others. The choice of specific treatment methods is comprehensively considered based on the stage of the disease and the patient's physical condition. Early-stage prostate cancer patients can choose prostatectomy or radical radiotherapy. For patients with locally advanced T3 or T4 stage prostate cancer, since the efficacy of prostatectomy alone is relatively poor, radiotherapy combined with endocrine therapy can be chosen. For patients with metastatic prostate cancer, those who are found to have bone metastasis or distant metastasis from the onset, endocrine therapy is primarily used. If endocrine therapy is ineffective or fails, chemotherapy can also be adopted for these late-stage metastatic prostate cancer patients. If the bone metastasis causes pain, local radiotherapy can also be used to alleviate the pain symptoms.

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Written by Zhou Zi Hua
Oncology
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The difference between benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer.

Prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer are sometimes very difficult to distinguish clinically, as both diseases occur in elderly men, can cause lower urinary tract symptoms, and lead to elevated PSA levels. However, prostatic hyperplasia generally has a longer medical history, whereas prostate cancer has a shorter history and progresses more quickly. During a digital rectal exam for prostatic hyperplasia, the gland appears enlarged and the surface is smooth. In contrast, during a prostate exam, the gland may show irregular enlargement, a rough surface, and the tumor feels firm. When these two are difficult to distinguish, considering a prostate biopsy may be advisable.

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Written by Zhou Zi Hua
Oncology
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Where can prostate cancer metastasize to?

When prostate cancer invades surrounding tissues and structures, it can cause a variety of clinical symptoms, including urinary irritation, urinary obstruction, urinary incontinence, sciatica, erectile dysfunction, etc., and can compress causing unilateral or bilateral hydronephrosis. In severe cases, when the tumor invades the rectum, it can cause difficulty in defecation or colon obstruction. When the cancer metastasizes to the bones, it can cause bone pain and pathological fractures, and may also spread to the lungs.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Can prostate cancer be cured?

Early-stage prostate cancer patients can achieve a cure through radical surgery or radical radiotherapy and other treatment methods. Therefore, whether prostate cancer can be cured is related to the stage of the patient's condition. Early-stage prostate cancer patients can be cured through radical surgery or radical radiotherapy. If the cancer is diagnosed at a late stage, with extensive pelvic metastasis or multiple bone metastases, treatment for these late-stage prostate cancer patients primarily revolves around endocrine therapy. Most patients respond well to endocrine treatment; however, for these late-stage prostate cancer patients, the treatment aims to alleviate symptoms and extend survival. Through these treatments, a cure is not achievable.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Can prostate cancer be detected by a CT scan?

If a CT scan is performed for prostate cancer, it usually can detect the tumor in the prostate, especially an enhanced CT scan will show enhancement. However, to confirm the diagnosis, it is still necessary to perform a prostate biopsy to find cancer cells. Only with the detection of cancer cells can prostate cancer be diagnosed. Additionally, a blood test for the tumor marker PSA, which generally increases, can be used in combination with these findings for a comprehensive evaluation. The definitive diagnosis of prostate cancer requires a biopsy to find cancer cells, which is the gold standard for diagnosing prostate cancer.