External beam radiotherapy uses high energy X-ray beams to treat
prostate cancer. The X-ray beams are directed at the prostate gland
from outside the body. They damage the cancer cells and stop them
growing.
You may be able to have radiotherapy if your cancer is still
contained within the prostate gland (localised prostate cancer).
Radiotherapy may also be suitable for some men whose cancer has
spread to the area just outside the prostate (locally advanced prostate
cancer).
External beam radiotherapy is sometimes given alongside brachytherapy or high dose rate
brachytherapy (internal radiotherapy). Radiotherapy can also be
used after surgery
if your PSA level starts to rise or if not all the cancer was
removed with surgery.
What other
treatments are available?
Updated July 2010
To be reviewed July 2012