Radiation Therapy Options for Prostate Cancer

An MD for more than 30 years, Dr. Rajiv “Raj” Dahiya serves as a radiation oncologist at Premier Cancer Centers in Dallas, TX. There, Dr. Rajiv “Raj” Dahiya uses innovative treatment technologies to address prostate and other cancers.

For patients with prostate cancer, radiation therapy can be an effective first-line treatment as well as an intervention for recurrent or advanced cancers. One option is external beam radiation therapy, or EBRT, which delivers therapeutic radiation to the tumor from outside the body. Most contemporary forms of EBRT involve image-guided radiation delivery that creates the shape of the radiation beam so as to minimize exposure of nearby tissues.

EBRT may be an element of a potentially curative treatment plan for patients with early stage cancers, though it is also used as a symptom mitigation measure for patients whose cancer has spread. Another option for treating early-stage prostate cancer is brachytherapy, also known as interstitial or internal radiation therapy. This methodology involves placing inside the prostate a series of small radioactive structures, each the size of a grain of rice. 

Most such interventions fall into a category known as permanent or low dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy, in which the implanted pellets continually emit small doses of radiation and then remain safely in the prostate after treatment is complete. Other patients receive what is known as temporary or high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy, which delivers increased levels of radiation through implanted catheters, with the catheters being removed after the therapy is complete.

High dose rate brachytherapy is often used in combination with EBRT, particularly for those patients who are at risk of the cancer spreading. Brachytherapy may also be used alone, though this is more common in patients with slow-growing cancers.

ASTRO 2016 Annual Meeting for Radiation Oncologists

In 2016, Dr. Raj Dahiya joined the staff of Premier Cancer Centers in Dallas, Texas, where he practices as a radiation oncologist. Active in the medical industry, Dr. Raj Dahiya belongs to multiple organizations, including the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology.

The American Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) began in 1958 and has developed into a world leader in the field with more than 10,500 members. Altogether, the ASTRO membership treats an estimated one million patients with various forms of cancer on a yearly basis. In an effort to advance the impact of radiation oncology, ASTRO holds a conference each year to unite physicians, nurses, and scientists.

Touted as the most important meeting of its kind, the 2016 Annual Meeting will take place September 25-28, 2016, at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston, Massachusetts. An expected 1,700 paper posters will complement a full schedule of clinical trial and oral abstract sessions, and attendees will have countless networking opportunities. For registration information, visit www.astro.org.

Tips on Preventing Cancer from the American Cancer Society

A radiation oncologist with more than a decade of experience, Dr. Raj Dahiya works at Premier Cancer Centers in Dallas. Dr. Raj Dahiya maintains membership with the American College of Radiology, the American Cancer Society (ACS), and several other professional organizations.

The ACS has supported cancer research and education for more than a century. Its website explains multiple ways that individuals can reduce the risk of developing cancer.

- Discontinue or avoid smoking, which is one of the best-known ways to decrease the risk of cancer. Even habitual smokers begin to benefit from quitting as little as 20 minutes after doing so.

- Avoid prolonged sun exposure, which has long been linked to skin cancer. By remaining in the shade, applying sunscreen, and wearing a hat and other clothes to cover the face and other areas that would otherwise be exposed, people can substantially reduce their exposure to sunlight’s problematic ultraviolet rays.

- Undertake a healthy lifestyle. The ACS encourages individuals to maintain a healthy weight, avoid excessive alcohol consumption, and consume a healthy diet. Such practices can also reduce one’s risk of heart disease.