New treatment for prostate cancer helps maintain sexual function as well
June 26th, 2008 Posted in prostate cancerA new prostate cancer treatment with fewer side effects may one day help reduce hospital waiting lists and give patients a better quality of life.
Traditional radiation therapy affects tissues and blood vessels surrounding the prostate gland, leaving men diagnosed with the disease with reduced sexual function. The Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) treatment targets tumours with pinpoint accuracy without damaging the surrounding blood vessels vital for sexual activity or injuring the bladder and rectum.
This new treatment could reduce painful side effects and help maintain sexual function.
About 19,000 Australian men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year and 2,600 die, making it the second most fatal cancer in men.
IGRT, which involves the production of high resolution images of the anatomy surrounding a tumour, is available at five cancer referral centres in Australia, including Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital.