EBRT
is shorthand for electron beam radiation therapy and
is a standard type of external radiation therapy used
in the treatment of prostate cancer. A radiation oncologist
will administer the EBRT after carefully mapping the
prostate gland. A perfect session of electron beam radiation
therapy will hit only the targeted area and none of
the surrounding organs. Unfortunately, over the course
of 5 treatments per week over 5 to 9 weeks, the surrounding
organs will be exposed to the photons generated by the
linear accelerator. Healthy prostate gland cells as
well as the healthy cells of surrounding organs, unlike
prostate cancer cells, can repair the radiation damage
to their DNA before cell division and therefore minimize
the amount of damage caused by radiation exposure.
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