According to a study published in Gastroenterology, any man who has received radiation therapy for prostate cancer should be aggressively monitored for rectal cancer.
Researchers studied approximately 85,000 men with prostate cancer. About 30,000 had received radiation therapy; the remaining 55,000 had been treated with surgery alone.
When the prostate is treated with radiation, at least part of the rectum receives radiation, too. Apparently, this causes a predisposition to cancer. The study found that men who'd received radiation therapy were 70% more likely to develop rectal cancer than men who hadn't.
What does this mean for you? According to the study's lead author, anyone who received radiation therapy for prostate cancer should be aggressively monitored for rectal cancer starting five years after treatment. If that describes you, you may want to give your doctor a call.
Sources:
- Barclay, Laurie. Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer May Increase Rectal Cancer Risk in Irradiated Field. Medscape Medical News. 4 Apr. 2006. 26 Aug. 2006 [http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/502437].
- Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer Nearly Doubles the Risk of Rectal Cancer. American Gastroenterological Association. 1 Apr. 2005. 26 Aug. 2006 [http://www.gastro.org/wmspage.cfm?parm1=1810].
