Radiation therapy
is the use of radioactive energy to treat prostate cancer.
The two types used are internal and external: brachytherapy
and external beam therapy. Brachytherapy can be permanent
or temporary but works by irradiating the prostate gland
through interstitial therapy. External beam radiation
therapy uses precisely aimed waves of photons created
in the linear accelerator to irradiate from the outside.
External beam radiation therapy also utilizes 3-dimensional
conformal radiation therapy and Intensity modulated
radiation therapy (IMRT) as more precise versions of
external radiation therapy. Another type of radiation
therapy is proton beam therapy which uses protons rather
than photons. Radiation therapy for the treatment of
prostate cancer may also be referred to as radiotherapy.
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