Making the Decision to Have Radiation Treatment for Prostate Cancer

Your doctor may suggest radiation treatment if any of these statements is true for you.

• You have localized prostate cancerwithout any evidence of cancer spread. In this case, you may have only external radiation, only internal radiation, or both.

• You’re having painfrom prostate cancer that has spread to your bones. In this case, your doctor might recommend external radiation.

• You’ve already had surgery or another treatment and your cancer has come back. In this case, your doctor might recommend external radiation.

For this treatment, you’ll talk with a doctor who specializes in both cancer and radiation, called a radiation oncologist. This doctor will tell you what type of radiation you need, at what dose, and for how long. During your visit, ask what you can expect to feel during and after the treatment.