What are long-term complications of radiation for prostate cancer?

Most of the complications that arise from radiation usually involve the bladder and the rectum. Some of the radiation, despite the best technology, is going to go to the bladder and rectum, given the fact that the prostate is located between them. So a small percentage of patients may retain some of the side effects they may have experienced during treatment. For instance, there may be trouble with the bladder, such as urinary frequency, a burning sensation during urination, or a sense of urgency. Rectal symptoms may include frequency, urgency, looser stools, or irregularity. In the vast majority of patients who undergo radiation treatment, side effects slowly subside over time, but there’s a small percentage of patients who experience chronic side effects from radiation therapy.