Bladder Cancer After Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3821989/
Rev Urol. 2013; 15(3): 108–112.
"External beam radiotherapy (EBRT) is frequently used in the management of prostate cancer (PCa) as definitive, postoperative, or salvage local treatment. Although EBRT plays a central role in the management of PCa, complications remain a troubling by-product. Several studies have demonstrated an association between radiotherapy and elevated risk of acute and late toxicities. A secondary malignancy induced by initial therapy represents one of the most serious complications related to definitive cancer treatment. The radiation-related secondary primary malignancy risk increases with increasing survival time. Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder is the most frequent secondary primary malignancy occurring after radiotherapy and is described as more aggressive; it may be diagnosed later because some radiation oncologists believe that the hematuria that occurs after prostate EBRT is normal. Some patients treated for localized PCa will subsequently develop invasive bladder cancer requiring surgical intervention. Patients with PCa treated with EBRT should be monitored closely for the presence of bladder cancer."
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/ / "Due to the increased risk for developing bladder cancer after pelvis irradiation, it is advisable to supervise patients who undergo RT for the treatment of PCa. We propose a close follow-up with cystoscopy each year or every 6 months on the basis of existing comorbidities, as well as additional work-up and increased screening sampling density."
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Please let me know if anyone who had EBRT has had a cystoscopy as this article recommends? How soon after your EBRT did you oncologist or urologist perform a cystoscopy? Thanks