Radiation therapy is used to treat a variety of malignancies. In addition to its curative potential, however, radiation is often a source of significant side effects. A goal of treatment is to keep treatment time to a minimum, without reducing the benefits. A study performed at the Fox Chase Cancer Center indicates that intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) allows for a shorter course of treatment by delivering higher doses of radiation during each session. Researchers assessed not only the effectiveness of the treatment against the cancer; they also tracked side effects. The study concluded that the new dosing plan did not lead to an increase in incidence or severity of genitourinary or gastrointestinal (GI) complications, both common side effects seen in prostate cancer patients treated with radiation.
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