IMRT, a technique that more precisely targets the tumor is advancement in cancer treatment that is more successful as it improves the care that cancer patients receive.
The new method of IMRT differs from traditional radiation therapy because it lets a radiologist send thousands of very small, precisely focused, x-ray beams of radiation, coming from multiple directions, towards the cancerous tumor itself.
A team at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia tracked 155 men with intermediate- to high-risk prostate cancer who underwent IMRT. According to the press release, one group of men in the study received 2 Gy of radiation in 38 sessions over seven weeks, three days, while another group received 2.7 Gy in 26 sessions over five weeks, one day.
The researchers found no significant differences in sexual function scores between the two groups at six months, one year, and two years after treatment.
Dr. Mark Buyyounouski, author of the study said, "Increasing the radiation used each day is particularly attractive, because it also shortens the treatment time by several days."
"We need to make sure there's a balance between risk and benefit, and sexual function is a major consideration. Fortunately, this study shows no decrease in sexual function from the higher doses of radiation," he added.
The findings were expected to be presented Monday at the annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, in Los Angeles.
