Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage I, Stage II, or Stage III Prostate Cancer

RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays and other types of radiation to kill tumor cells. Giving radiation therapy in different ways may kill more tumor cells. It is not yet known which type of radiation therapy is more effective in treating prostate cancer. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying different types of radiation therapy to compare how well they work in treating patients with stage I, stage II, or stage III prostate cancer.