How Many Radiation Treatments for Prostate Cancer?

When a man is diagnosed with prostate cancer, one of the most common treatment options recommended is radiation therapy. But a frequent question patients and their families ask is: how many radiation treatments are actually needed for prostate cancer?

Some men may undergo a few focused treatments with advanced techniques, while others may require several weeks of daily sessions. Understanding these differences is an important step in setting expectations and making informed decisions alongside a care team. 

Let’s talk more about how many radiation treatments for prostate cancer are needed for optimal patient outcomes.

“With traditional external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), patients receive treatment five days per week for 4 to 9 weeks, with each treatment session lasting about 15 minutes.”

Radiation Treatment for Prostate Cancer

 

Radiation therapy is one of the most widely used treatment options for prostate cancer, offering similar cure rates to other types of treatment and fewer long-term side effects¹.

Radiation treatment works by using high-energy beams or radioactive sources to destroy cancer cells while aiming to preserve surrounding healthy tissue as much as possible. The approach can be tailored to each patient depending on the stage of disease, overall health, and treatment goals.

The goal of radiation therapy isn’t just to eliminate prostate cancer. Physicians also aim to relieve pain and control the growth of tumors that have spread to bones or other areas surrounding the prostate. It’s also used in palliative care to reduce suffering in patients with advanced or metastatic disease.

While there are several types of radiation therapy for prostate cancer, the most common ones are external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), and brachytherapy.

How Many Radiation Treatments for Prostate Cancer?

 

When a patient is diagnosed with prostate cancer and radiation therapy is recommended, one of the first questions that often comes up is “how many treatments will I need?” 

The answer varies since prostate cancer treatment is not “one size fits all.” The number of radiation sessions depends on the type of radiation therapy used, the stage of the cancer, and individual patient factors such as age, health, and treatment goals.

With traditional external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), patients receive treatment five days per week for 4 to 9 weeks². Each treatment session lasts about 15 minutes and most patients are able to resume normal daily activities right away. Conventional EBRT poses no risk to yourself or those around you. Other radiation treatments, such as stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), are much shorter in duration and only require one to five treatments³.

Radiation Treatment Side Effects

Radiation treatment for prostate cancer is generally safe and effective, but side effects are possible. The most common side effects after radiation treatment include urinary issues like increased frequency, urgency, and burning or discomfort when urinating.

Additional side effects of radiation treatment may include rectal irritation, blood in stool, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, and skin redness or irritation. Most men undergoing radiation treatment for prostate cancer experience mild symptoms during treatment, and patients are urged to contact their physician if symptoms persist or become severe.

“The most common side effects after radiation treatment include urinary issues like increased frequency, urgency, and burning or discomfort when urinating.”

Radiation Treatment Cost

 

Costs range widely for radiation treatment for prostate cancer, largely dependent on the type of radiation therapy, number of treatments, and insurance coverage. Patients will likely reach their out of pocket insurance maximum, so it’s important to budget for these costs. 

However, the average cost of radiation treatment in the United States ranges from roughly $3,200 to $14,000⁴. Additionally, WebMD estimates the average treatment cost per month for patients with prostate cancer is $2,800⁵.

Recovery for Radiation Treatment

Recovery after radiation treatment looks different than post-surgery recovery. Since there’s no hospital stay or surgical wound, patients typically experience a gradual adjustment and healing process that happens while treatments are ongoing and for weeks to months afterwards. 

Depending on the type of radiation treatment, most men continue normal activities like work and exercise. In fact, physicians recommend walking and light exercise along with staying hydrated and maintaining a healthy diet. Fatigue symptoms tend to improve within one month while bowel issues can persist for a few weeks.

When it comes to long-term recovery and monitoring, patients are recommended to undergo PSA blood tests to monitor treatment success and recurrence. Urinary functions return to normal within a few months, and sexual health is found to be restored especially when hormone therapy is combined. 

The Bottom Line

So, how many radiation treatments for prostate cancer are needed? The answer isn’t so simple. It largely depends on the type of radiation therapy used to treat each individual case of prostate cancer. However, radiation therapy, in general, has a much better recovery rate and is more minimally invasive than other prostate cancer treatment methods like surgery.

Ask your urologist about KOELIS, or find a certified provider in our network with our KOELIS Locator.

 

 

References

1 – Gay HA, Michalski JM. Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer. Mo Med. 2018 Mar-Apr;115(2):146-150. PMID: 30228707; PMCID: PMC6139853.

2 – External beam radiation therapy (EBRT). Cancer Council. https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/prostate-cancer/management-treatment/radiotherapy/external-beam-radiation-therapy/

3 – Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT). Yale Medicine. https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/stereotactic-body-radiation-therapy

4 – How Much Does Radiation Therapy Cost?. Manfred Sy. Reviewed by Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH. GoodRX. 2024. https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/finance/radiation-therapy-cost?srsltid=AfmBOooBUHpjC49KKsAGdoefV77zc_zfBXFSOeBfBlRJn1cTMRDUWdfl

5 – The Cost of Prostate Cancer. Alexandra Benisek. Reviewed by Nazia Q Bandukwala, DO. WebMD. 2024. https://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/cost-of-prostate-cancer