Study Finds Radiation Therapy For Prostate Cancer Nearly Doubles Risk For Rectal Cancer

A University of Minnesota Cancer Center study indicates that men who undergo radiation therapy for prostate cancer have nearly double the risk of developing rectal cancer when compared to men who opt to have surgery to treat prostate cancer. The study found that men who receive radiation for prostate cancer have about 70 percent higher risk of developing rectal cancer than those who underwent surgery, a risk similar to that posed by having a family history of the disease. This is the first study to quantify rectal cancer risk associated with prostate radiation. The entire study will be published April 1, 2005 in the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) journal Gastroenterology.