Another option that has taken hold in recent years, radioactive seeds, aims to minimize side effects by placing the radiation source directly inside the prostate.

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The glare might cause your eyes to tire but there is no danger of radiation or other undesirable side-effects.

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But her computer model predicts that some slow-growing tumors could be treated just as well with less-frequent radiation, sparing patients bad side effects.

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The reaction to this radiation is greater on the afternoon side than on the morning side and there is thus a small force pushing on the afternoon side that gradually distorts the asteroid's orbit.

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In tests on mice, the drug increases tolerance to radiation by about 25% with few side effects, he says.

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The study, which was put together by Finland's Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, suggests that people who used cellphones longer than 10 years were 40 percent more likely to develop gliomas (a nervous system tumor) on the side of the head where the cellphone's radiation would enter the head.

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Integrated Medical treats far fewer patients with cheaper radiation seeds than with IMRT because seeds cause more side effects, Dr. Kapoor said.

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Now new computer-guided systems cut down on collateral damage by molding the radiation beam to the precise contours of the prostate, reducing side effects and boosting cure rates.

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It may be difficult to decide whether those patients should receive chemotherapy or Erbitux with radiation--especially since the chemotherapy may be cheaper, but with more severe side effects.

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