Is Proton Beam Therapy Recommended for Prostate Cancer?

Proton therapy is a brand new way to ship radiation to tumors using tiny, sub-atomic particles (protons) as a substitute of the photons used in conventional radiation treatment. Proton therapy uses new expertise to speed up atoms to 93,000 miles per second, separating the protons from the atom.

Proton therapy has been proven helpful for tumors surrounded by delicate buildings corresponding to the attention, brain, and spinal wire, where the potential for radiation damage may be very high. Proton therapy also affords a definite profit in lots of childhood cancers due to the excessive threat of lengthy-term uncomfortable side effects in youngsters who receive normal radiation treatment.

In contrast, most research of proton remedy for prostate cancer recommend that this new method may be just pretty much as good as commonplace photon radiation remedy at controlling the growth and spread of the cancer, however there is no such thing as a evidence that proton treatment does a greater job of curing the cancer.

The dearth of proof has not slowed the fast enhance in using proton remedy for prostate cancer. One latest examine documented a sixty seven% improve within the number of circumstances of proton treatment for prostate cancer billed to Medicare between 2006 and 2009. This rate of growth is particularly noteworthy given the restricted entry to proton therapy: there are at current only 10 proton beam facilities working in the United States, and each center treats just a few hundred cancer patients each year.

Proton beam therapy cost

Proton beam therapy for prostate cancer is reimbursed at a much greater charge than traditional radiation therapy for a similar condition. Medicare pays about $19,000 for a full dose of normal radiation remedy for prostate cancer, nevertheless it pays practically double for proton therapy - more than $32,000.

In USA, it costs round $40,000, twice as much as different prostate radiation treatments. Hospitals are rushing to construct proton facilities, and nine are working now - websites embody Boston, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Fla., and Loma Linda, Calif., east of Los Angeles.

Side Effects

There is not any clear evidence that proton therapy is better for prostate cancer, and the brand new results suggest it may trigger extra complications. A Medicare data discovered that men handled with proton beams later had one-third extra bowel problems, similar to bleeding and blockages, than comparable men given conventional radiation.

Proton therapy uses proton particles as a substitute of X-rays. In principle, it targets radiation extra on to tumors and spares wholesome tissue, which ought to result in fewer side effects. Researchers checked Medicare information on more than 12,000 males handled for early-stage prostate cancers from 2002 by means of 2007.