Prostate cancer is second only to lung cancer as a leading cause of cancer-related death in American men. However, while one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point, only one in 35 will die from this disease. Many prostate cancers are detected in their early stages when they're curable, and many are slow-growing and never spread beyond the prostate. Exposure to x-rays may heighten your chances for prostate cancer under certain circumstances, but this risk appears to be small. Conversely, certain forms of x-rays can be used to treat prostate cancer.
X-rays are a form of ionizing radiation, which means they displace electrons from the atoms and molecules in your tissues as they pass through your body. Molecules damaged by ionizing radiation become electrically charged, or “ionized.” According to scientists at Princeton University, ionized atoms and molecules can produce toxic free radicals, form unusual chemical bonds or alter the way your DNA works. Over time, such injuries can change the way your cells reproduce and set the stage for cancer.
A study published in the June 2008 issue of the "British Journal of Cancer" showed that certain x-ray procedures may be associated with an increased risk for prostate cancer. After evaluating data from 431 men with early-onset prostate cancer – cancer that was diagnosed before age 60 – the study’s authors found that prostate cancer was twice as likely to occur in men who had had hip x-rays or barium enemas at least five years prior to their cancer diagnosis. For men with a family history of prostate cancer, pelvic irradiation increased the risk even further.
Radiation May Cure
Paradoxically, one of the most common treatment modalities for prostate cancer involves the use of ionizing radiation. This therapy, called external beam radiotherapy, directs a high-energy beam of radiation at your prostate in an effort to eliminate cancer cells from the organ. Just like your normal cells, cancer cells can be damaged by ionizing radiation. In fact, cancer cells are more sensitive to radiation because they are dividing more rapidly, and their DNA is more susceptible to damage. However, while external beam radiotherapy can cure prostate cancer in its early stages, it can also injure the normal tissues surrounding your prostate.
Despite the findings of the 2008 British study, there is no proof that x-ray procedures actually cause prostate cancer. The study’s authors conceded that the link between diagnostic x-rays and prostate cancer is weak, and further research is needed to clarify this issue. Notably, another study published in the December 2011 issue of the "British Journal of Cancer" concluded that less than 1 percent of all cancers in the United Kingdom – whose technology mirrors that of other developed countries – could be attributed to diagnostic radiation. This small risk must be weighed against the benefits of any specific procedure.
- American Family Physician: Treatment Options for Localized Prostate Cancer
- Princeton University – Environmental Health and Safety: Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation
- British Journal of Cancer: Diagnostic Radiation Procedures and Risk of Prostate Cancer
- Radiation Oncology: Randomized Phase II Trial of Urethral Sparing Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy in Low-Risk Prostate Cancer: Implications for Focal Therapy
- British Journal of Cancer: Cancers in 2010 Attributable to Ionising Radiation Exposure in the UK
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