Is proton therapy for prostate cancer better than traditional radiation therapy?
Proton therapy for prostate cancer (or proton beam therapy for prostate cancer, as it is sometimes called) is a type of external radiation treatment that uses nuclear technology to deliver fast-moving ions into cancer tumors. Some claim it is more precise than traditional external beam radiation and may reduce the risk of incontinence and impotence, which are side effects of proton therapy for prostate cancer. This form of radiation treatment has increased in popularity since it was first introduced in the United States at Loma Linda University Medical Center. Their web site makes many claims, but there have only been limited clinical studies comparing proton beam therapy for prostate cancer to traditional forms of external beam radiation. What is needed is a large, randomized clinical trial comparing proton therapy for prostate cancer to treatments such as radical prostatectomy, IMRT, and standard 3D conformal radiation. Until that happens, we cannot know for sure if proton therapy fo
