prostate-report.org

External beam radiotherapy an option for prostate cancer patients on anticoagulation

Since prostate cancer patients, especially elderly men, often also have cardiovascular diseases that require anticoagulation therapy, it is not uncommon for these patients to be on anticoagulants, such as Coumadin and Plavix.

External beam radiotherapy is one of the standard treatment options for localized prostate cancer, and it may be the preferred choice for older patients with significant comorbid illnesses. Despite the tremendous advances in delivery of radiation recently, rectal bleeding remains a common and potentially serious toxicity of radiation.