• Solveig Hanssen and Jan Norum.
• Department of Oncology, Section of Radiotherapy, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway. solveig.hanssen@unn.no
• Anticancer Res. 2008 Sep 1; 28 (5B): 2865-8.

BackgroundPatient-reported toxicity in two radiotherapy regimens for early stage prostate cancer was investigated. In 2003, the Swedish BeamCath technique was adapted for Northern Norway.Materials And MethodsNinety men underwent radiotherapy for early-stage prostate cancer in February 2002 to March 2005. They were invited to participate in a telephone interview employing a questionnaire guide focusing on bladder, intestinal and sexual function.ResultsEighty patients responded, which represents 89% of all patients. The treatment group (23 patients) had received 76 Gy with the BeamCath technique and the control group (57 patients) received 70 Gy employing a conformal technique. The BeamCath technique was associated with a lower median rectal (p=0.004; 50.6 Gy versus 56.2 Gy) and bladder dose (p=0.017; 48.5 Gy versus 61.5 Gy). There were no differences in scores on masculinity and sexual function. In conclusion, the BeamCath technique did not increase rectal or bladder toxicity.

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