Proton therapy is certainly growing in terms of popularity. Statistics gathered from 2015 found that nearly 80 proton therapy treatment rooms were under construction throughout the world. This type of therapy has been shown to be extremely effective at treating prostate cancer. Statistics show that prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in males. Considering that, it’s understandable to wonder if proton therapy is the right kind of prostate cancer treatment for you. In this post, you’ll learn what proton therapy is and what to expect during this procedure.

How Proton Cancer Treatment Works

It makes sense to want to know how proton therapy works. Instead of using x rays, this type of radiation therapy uses protons. As protons are sped up, they begin to create high levels of energy. In turn, this energy allows protons to travel to cancerous tissues within the body.

Preparing to Receive Proton Therapy

While considering prostate cancer treatment, it’s wise to know what to expect. In most cases, you’ll need to begin this process by contacting your physician. This allows you to receive a consultation, helping you to understand more details about proton treatment. You’ll also need to provide medical records and other types of information about your history. In addition, it’s wise to consider preparing a list of any questions you might have concerning proton cancer treatment.

Effectiveness of Proton Therapy for Prostate Cancer

As a type of prostate cancer treatment, proton therapy is highly effective. Since proton therapy works to only target cancerous cells, less radiation is sent throughout the rest of your body. This allows the protons to only target areas where cancerous cells are present. In addition to being effective, proton therapy typically causes less side effects than other types of treatment options for prostate cancer. In fact, statistics show that 94% of males receiving proton therapy for prostate cancer are able to remain sexually active after treatment.

In conclusion, it’s understandable to have concerns about receiving proton therapy. Fortunately, you’ll find that proton therapy works extremely well to eliminate cancerous cells from your body. In addition to being effective, you’ll find that proton therapy sessions don’t take long amounts of time. In fact, most proton therapy sessions only take about 15 to 45 minutes, with actual proton treatment lasting a minute or two. If you’re wanting an effective and minimally invasive form of treatment for prostate cancer, consider proton therapy.