Pelvic Radiation Disease in the UK
Pelvic Radiation Disease (PRD) is a long-term side-effect (‘late effect’) of pelvic radiotherapy treatment. This includes pelvic radiotherapy for cancers of the colon, rectum, anus, prostate, testes, bladder, cervix and womb, but also total body radiotherapy and radiotherapy in the pelvic area for other primary and secondary cancers.
Symptoms arise because of damage to internal organs or skin. Symptoms may start or continue 3 months or more after the end of radiotherapy. Sometimes they start many years or decades after radiotherapy.
The Pelvic Radiation Disease Association (PRDA) estimates that at least 100,000 people in the UK are living with PRD.
What is Pelvic Radiation Disease
Pelvic Radiation Disease (PRD) is defined as one or more ongoing symptoms of variable complexity that may affect people who have previously had radiotherapy to the pelvic region to treat their cancer. This includes pelvic radiotherapy for cancers of the colon, rectum, anus, prostate, testes, bladder, cervix and womb, but also total body radiotherapy and radiotherapy in the pelvic area for other primary and secondary cancers.
