Having radiotherapy to the prostate/prostate bed: preparation for treatment
This page is for patients who are about to start a course of radiotherapy to the prostate/prostate bed.
Before starting radiotherapy planning and treatment you will need to follow special instructions on preparing your bladder and bowels. This preparation process ensures your internal organs (rectum, bladder, small bowel) can be moved away from the area to be treated, and to make sure your internal organs on the treatment days are in the same position as on your radiotherapy planning scan.
It is important that you understand and follow the instructions for preparation given to you.
This page describes what needs to be done and what you need to do throughout your treatment. We understand this is a worrying time for patients and their families, and we hope this page can help to answer any questions you have.
If you have any questions about the treatment or information below, please speak to the team looking after you.
The prostate is a gland about the size and shape of a walnut. The prostate gland is in front of the rectum, just below the bladder and it surrounds the urethra (Figure 1). The urethra carries urine from the bladder out through the penis.