Impact of Radiotherapy on Electrolyte and Hematological Parameters in Prostate Cancer: Curative vs. Palliative Groups

Background: Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men, with ra- diotherapy being a key treatment modality. However, radiotherapy often leads to he- matological and electrolyte imbalances, adversely impacting patient outcomes. Objective: To assess the impact of radiotherapy on electrolyte levels (sodium, potas- sium, calcium, magnesium, phosphate, and chloride) and hematological parameters (leukocyte, erythrocyte, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets) in prostate cancer patients. The study also compares these effects between curative and palliative treat- ment groups. Patients and Methods: Twenty prostate cancer patients were included in the study, divided into curative (n=10) and palliative (n=10) groups. Blood samples were col- lected before and after radiotherapy, they were analyzed using the Swelab Alpha ana- lyzer, while electrolyte levels were measured with Jokoh Ex-DS and Roche Integra 400 Plus analyzers. Patients received 3DCRT and VMAT. Results: Significant differences were observed in calcium (p = 0.018) and phosphate (p = 0.005) levels, with higher values in the curative group. Other electrolytes (mag- nesium, sodium, potassium, and chloride) showed no significant changes. Hemato- logical analysis revealed a significant decrease in white blood cells and hemoglobin in the curative group, indicating bone marrow suppression. In contrast, the pallia- tive group demonstrated stable white blood cell levels and increased platelet counts post-treatment. Conclusion: Radiotherapy affects biochemical and hematological parameters differ- ently in curative and palliative settings. Personalized monitoring of these parameters is essential to mitigate complications and improve patient outcomes.