Proton therapy is a kind of radiation that is more targeted at a certain tissue and does not extend past that targeted point. Conventional radiation treatment affects areas beyond the tumor. When it comes to using proton therapy for breast cancer treatment, on average there is no radiation to the heart, and half of the radiation to the lung when compared to conventional radiation.

Can this also be used for other kinds of cancers? Specifically, can it be used for prostate cancer treatment? The answer is yes, it can be, and can be very effective.

Proton therapy offers a non-invasive cancer treatment for men who are suffering from prostate cancer. Prostate cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow and form some kind of malignant mass on the prostate. If prostate cancer is left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body like a man’s bones, lymph nodes, or even bladder.

The prostate gland is by a man’s urethra, and is where seminal fluid is produced and it is also the area of a man’s body where urine flow is controlled.

You might be wondering about whether proton therapy is as effective as conventional radiation as a prostate cancer treatment. There have been several studies done to monitor the effectiveness of proton therapy, and it has been found that biochemical failure rates (when cancer returns after treatment) is the same for proton therapy and conventional prostate cancer treatments.

This treatment option uses a ray that is focused on a certain area of the body and destroys cancer cells in that specific area. What makes this an major advantage over conventional radiation is that the radiation with proton therapy is much more targeted and focused, which means surrounding tissues of the prostate will not be affected.

Other benefits of radiation therapy include that it is painless, more accurate, and does not affect your energy levels. There are also lower risks of side effects when it comes to proton therapy as well, however, you will still be getting a high amount of radiation to ensure that cancer cells are treated in your body.

Would you consider proton therapy for prostate cancer? Let us know in the comments below!