What is the difference between radiotherapy and radical radiotherapy

Some people may have side effects that do not improve, or side effects that happen months or years after treatment. These are called long term or late effects. Your doctor or nurse will explain these to you. Late effects of radiotherapy to the bladder may include:. There are different ways late effects can be treated or managed.

We have more information about managing late effects of pelvic radiotherapy. Radical radiotherapy for bladder cancer. Radical radiotherapy means using high doses of radiotherapy to try to cure bladder cancer. On this page. What is radical radiotherapy for bladder cancer? How radical radiotherapy is given Radiotherapy is given in the radiotherapy department at the hospital as a series of short, daily treatments.

Types of radical radiotherapy There are different ways of giving radiotherapy to treat bladder cancer. Conformal radiotherapy Conformal radiotherapy uses a device inside the radiotherapy machine to shape the radiation beams to match the shape of the cancer. Your radiotherapy team can tell you more about these types of radiotherapy.

Having other treatment with radiotherapy You may have other treatment with radical radiotherapy to help make it work better. Chemotherapy Chemotherapy given with radiotherapy is called chemoradiation. Carbogen and nicotinamide You may have a gas called carbogen that you breathe in for a few minutes before and during your radiotherapy.

Side effects of radiotherapy to the bladder Your doctor, nurse or radiographer will talk about side effects with you. Radiotherapy to the bladder and nearby areas can cause the following side effects.

Bowel effects You may have diarrhoea and sore skin around the back passage rectum. Bladder effects You may need to pass urine pee more often. Effects on the skin The skin in the area being treated may become red and sore or itchy. Tiredness You may feel very tired , especially towards the end of treatment. Hair loss You may lose some of your pubic hair. Possible late effects of radiotherapy to the bladder Some people may have side effects that do not improve, or side effects that happen months or years after treatment.

Late effects of radiotherapy to the bladder may include: bowel or bladder changes vaginal changes erection problems erectile dysfunction infertility.

Getting support Macmillan is also here to support you. If you would like to talk, you can: Call the Macmillan Support Line on 00 Your doctor will use a combination of x-rays and scans to find out if there has been a reduction in the size of your tumour.

Usually the doctors wait a few months before doing a scan to allow the treatment to work. If there is evidence that your cancer is not responding to radiotherapy treatment, or if you are experiencing unmanageable side effects with it, your oncologist responsible for your care will have a very important meeting with you to discuss the benefits, risks and side effects of further treatment options.

You have the right to consider whether you wish to continue or have further radiotherapy treatment. This is a decision that you can make:. Your clinical team will be able to offer advice, but will respect your right to choose. If you decide to stop radiotherapy your doctor will discuss any further treatment options; medicines or treatments to manage the symptoms of your cancer. Our Ask the Nurse service have the answers. Sign up to receive all the latest information, news and advice, as well as ways you can support us.

Together we can make a difference to the lives of people living with lung cancer. Radiotherapy Radiotherapy has been an effective treatment for lung cancer. Does radiotherapy hurt? Is radiotherapy safe? Does radiotherapy have side effects? Common short term side effects include: Skin reaction: Your skin in the treated area may become a little pink or red. It may also feel a little dry or itchy. You may bathe or shower during treatment, but do not have the water too hot.

Use mild baby soap and try not to rub the treated area too hard. Avoid perfumed talcum powder or lotion. Problems with swallowing: This is caused by the swallowing tube oesophagus becoming irritated by the treatment.

There are soothing liquid medicines that can be prescribed by your doctor. Eat soft or mushy food and avoid spicy or hot food, smoking and alcohol during treatment. The problem usually gets better within a week or two after radiotherapy has been completed. Hair loss: The areas of hair loss will only be from the areas of your body being treated such as your head.

The ProtecT trial was a year, randomized clinical study designed to compare radical prostatectomy, external-beam radiotherapy and active surveillance for the treatment of localized prostate cancer. The results, published in , showed that the rate of disease progression among men assigned to radiotherapy or radical prostatectomy was less than half the rate among men assigned to active monitoring.

However, there was no significant difference in survival at the median year mark for radiation therapy, surgery or active surveillance. As discussed earlier in the sections on the side effects of radiation therapy and surgery, the researchers conducting the ProtecT trial also looked at side effects and quality-of-life issues and found that the three major side effects of these two treatment options that affect quality of life after prostate cancer treatment are urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction and bowel health.

The trial found that urinary leakage and erectile dysfunction were more common after surgery than after radiation therapy. Gastrointestinal bowel problems were more common after radiation therapy. Before making a treatment decision, seek several opinions. If possible, consult with a radiation oncologist and a urologic oncologist. Each field of specialty has its own area of expertise. Together, they may provide a more accurate assessment of your particular condition, which will help you make a more informed decision.

Your specific health conditions could mean that one choice may be better for you than the other. On the other hand, if you have another health condition, such as a cardiac condition that makes surgery riskier for you , radiation therapy may be the better choice.

When you meet with doctors, ask for statistics and the risk of possible side effects for their recommendations. For example, if you have inflammatory bowel disease, you might not want radiation therapy, which is known to cause a higher number of bowel problems.

You may have to seek appointments with these doctors individually. An alternative is to seek an opinion from a multidisciplinary group of oncologists and cancer care experts who will offer an unbiased, expert opinion on your case. This is what we do for our patients at CTCA. When you come to CTCA for a diagnostic consultation or second opinion, your case is reviewed by a multidisciplinary team of genitourinary cancer experts before you arrive for your first appointment.

This team may include a medical oncologist, a urologist or urologic oncologist and a radiation oncologist. If we determine you need additional diagnostic evaluations , such as imaging or genomic testing, we schedule those procedures for you before your arrival. Our goal is to give you and your caregivers a clear understanding of your options to empower you to make an informed decision about your care.

At CTCA, we strive to treat our patients as we would want our own loved ones to be treated: with compassion, dignity and respect. Most prostate cancer patients enjoy a good quality of life after treatment. If you feel pressure to make an immediate decision, take a step back. Most men with early-stage prostate cancer have time within reason for a second opinion and to think through their options.

Make a difference in the fight against cancer by donating to cancer research. Call us anytime. How to decide between radiation and surgery for localized prostate cancer May 9, by Sean Cavanaugh. To help you through the process of making this decision, this article covers: Radiation therapy for localized prostate cancer Surgery for localized prostate cancer How to compare radiation vs.

Radiation therapy for prostate cancer Radiation therapy techniques have improved over the years.