| Abstract: |
Radiation therapy (RT), either alone or in combination with other modalities, is routinely utilized in the management of clinically localized, locally advanced, and recurrent prostate cancers with excellent cancer control and relatively modest toxicity profiles. While any treatment toxicity should be individualized, radiation therapy regimens may impart various effects depending on patient and treatment-related factors. Although radiation induces a complex cascade of effects, primarily by direct and indirect DNA damage, which may be unpredictable, most patients have modest treatment-related toxicity. Throughout this chapter, we will review the known and hypothesized etiologies of urinary and erectile complications following radiation therapy, with particular attention to various modalities. We will also review management strategies as well as efforts to mitigate toxicities. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2016, 2024. |
