Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) for Prostate Cancer
What is IMRT?
Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy, or IMRT for short, is a special type of radiation therapy used to treat prostate cancer. Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays, like X-rays, to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing. IMRT is very advanced because it allows doctors to aim the radiation beams precisely at the prostate, where the cancer is, while avoiding as much of the healthy tissue around it as possible. This means that the cancer gets a strong dose of radiation, but the nearby healthy parts of the body get much less, which helps reduce side effects.
How is Radiation Delivered?
IMRT uses a machine called a linear accelerator, which delivers the radiation. When you go in for treatment, you lie down on a special table, and the machine moves around you. It doesn’t touch you, but it moves to different positions to aim the radiation beams at the prostate from many angles. The machine makes a little noise, but it doesn’t hurt. The radiation beams are shaped and controlled very carefully by the computer in the machine so they can match the exact shape of the prostate.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
IMRT usually requires several treatments spread out over a few weeks. Most people have treatments five days a week, from Monday to Friday, and each treatment only takes about 15 to 30 minutes. You don’t have to stay in the hospital overnight—you can go home right after each treatment.
Usually, a full course of IMRT for prostate cancer takes about 6 to 9 weeks, which means you might have around 30 to 45 treatments in total. This might sound like a lot, but spreading the treatments out like this helps protect the healthy tissues and allows the body to recover between sessions.
What Happens During Treatment?
Before you start IMRT, you will have a planning session called a “simulation.” During this session, the doctors will use a special machine, like a CT scanner, to take detailed pictures of the prostate and the area around it. These pictures help them decide exactly where the radiation needs to go. They might make small marks on your skin, like tiny dots, to help line you up in the same position each time you have a treatment.
On the day of your treatment, you’ll change into a hospital gown and lie down on the treatment table. The radiation therapists, who are the people trained to operate the machine, will help you get into the right position using the marks on your skin. Once you’re in position, they’ll leave the room, but don’t worry—they can see and hear you the whole time through a camera and microphone.
When the machine starts, you won’t see or feel the radiation, but you might hear a buzzing or whirring sound. The machine will move around you, stopping at different angles to deliver the radiation. It’s important to lie very still, but you can breathe normally. The whole process usually takes about 15 minutes, and then you’re done for the day!
Does It Hurt?
No, IMRT treatments don’t hurt. The radiation doesn’t make you feel anything while it’s happening. Some people might feel tired afterward, or notice changes like needing to go to the bathroom more often, but these feelings usually go away after the treatments are finished. It’s like when you play a sport or exercise a lot—you might feel tired afterward, but it doesn’t last forever.
Why Choose IMRT?
IMRT is a great option for treating prostate cancer because it’s so precise. It allows doctors to deliver a high dose of radiation right to the cancer, which makes the treatment more effective, while also protecting the healthy tissues around the prostate. This means there’s a lower chance of side effects compared to some other types of radiation therapy.
Overall, IMRT is a safe, effective, and painless way to treat prostate cancer, and it allows you to continue your normal activities while going through treatment. Your doctors and healthcare team will be there to help you every step of the way, making sure you’re comfortable and that the treatment is working as well as possible.