Benefit:

  • Radiation kills cancer cells, with the aim to cure you of the disease.

Urinary function:

  • At 6 months, problems with urinary continence were reported in 38 out of 100 patient
  • At 6 years, problems with urinary continence were reported in 49 out of 100 patients 
  • At 6 months, moderate to severe urinary incontinence problems were reported in 6 out of 100 patients 
  • At 6 years, moderate to severe urinary incontinence problems were reported in 5 out of 100 patients

Bowel function:

  • At 6 months, problems with faecal incontinence more than once per week were reported in 5 out of 100 patients 
  • At 6 years, problems with faecal incontinence more than once per week were reported in 4 out of 100 patients 
  • At 6 months, moderate to severe impact of bowel habits on quality of life was reported in 10 out of 100 patients 
  • At 6 years, moderate to severe impact of bowel habits on quality of life was reported in 2 out of 100 patients 

Sexual function:

  • At 6 months, moderate or severe problems with sexual function were reported in 48 out of 100 patients 
  • At 6 years, moderate or severe problems with sexual function were reported in 36 out of 100 patients
Comparing the benefits and risks of your treatment options

The information given on side effects is taken from the NICE guidelines and is based on evidence from a large UK trial (ProtecT).

Visit the protect trial.