Prostate Radiation Linked to Colon Risk
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Treating prostate cancer with radiation significantly increases the risk of developing colon cancer, researchers from the University of Minnesota reported this week in the journal Gastroenterology.
Using federal data from 1973 to 1994, the researchers identified 30,552 men who received radiation treatment; 1,437 developed colorectal cancer, about 70% more than expected.
The team noted that radiation treatment is highly effective for prostate cancer and should not be abandoned.
Instead, physicians should monitor patients to detect colorectal cancer in its early stages when it is highly curable.
