Radiation therapy uses a beam of high-energy rays or particles to destroy cancer cells.

There are several ways to apply radiation therapy. The most common way is to deliver a carefully focused beam of radiation from a machine outside the body. This is known as external beam radiation. External beam radiation therapy usually involves having treatments 5 days a week for a period of 6 weeks or so.

Another way to deliver radiation is to place tiny pellets or needles containing radioactive materials in or near the tumor. This method is called brachytherapy, internal radiation, interstitial radiation, or seed implantation. The pellets, or seeds, release their radiation slowly over time. Although the pellets stop being radioactive after a while, they remain in place for the rest of your life. This method can be more convenient, since you will not need to make as many trips to the doctor. However, implanting the seeds or needles requires surgery. Sometimes, both internal and external beam radiation therapy are used together.

The main drawback of radiation therapy is that it can destroy or damage nearby healthy tissue along with the cancerous cells. Many people experience temporary skin changes like a sunburn on the treated skin area. Less common but more serious side effects include:

• destroying some of the skin at the end of the penis
• narrowing of the urethra due to scar tissue (causing difficulty with urination)
• abnormal healing resulting in a fistula (abnormal connection) between the urethra and skin

As an alternative to surgery, groin and pelvic lymph nodes may be treated with radiation. Possible side effects of pelvic area and groin lymph node radiation include tiredness, nausea, or diarrhea. Radiation therapy to the groin and pelvic area after lymph node removal may reduce the risk of penile cancer coming back

Radiation therapy may be used as an alternative to surgery to treat primary (main or original) penile cancer. This treatment can help some men avoid partial or complete amputation of the penis.

Revised: 05/31/2006