The proton treatment center will be the first in Arkansas and one of only about 40 in the country. It will be located at the UAMS Radiation Oncology Center.
Full Answer
Is proton therapy right for prostate cancer?
Proton Therapy for Prostate Cancer. The first patient treated at MD Anderson with proton therapy had prostate cancer and started treatment in 2006. Since then we have treated thousands of men who have prostate cancer with proton therapy. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the U.S., but there is good news.
Who can have proton therapy?
Anyone who can have radiation therapy can have proton therapy. It can be used as primary treatment for early-stage prostate cancer or as part of a total treatment plan for prostate cancer. Which treatment you should have isn’t as simple as comparing proton therapy to chemotherapy, surgery, or hormone treatments.
What is pencil beam scanning proton therapy for prostate cancer?
Pencil beam scanning is one of the most common ways to deliver proton therapy for prostate cancer. Another common method is double-scattered beam therapy. With pencil beam scanning proton therapy, medical professionals are able to manipulate and focus the proton beams to a greater extent.
What is conventional radiation treatment for prostate cancer?
Conventional radiation treatment is also known as photon treatment, which is different from proton therapy. In conventional radiation treatment, high-energy X-rays are used to target and destroy cancer cells in the prostate. However, X-rays can damage healthy tissue as they pass through your body.
Is proton therapy available in Arkansas?
“Arkansas Children's is pleased to play a role in bringing proton therapy to Arkansas. This effort is part of our continuous commitment to the children of Arkansas to provide state-of-the-art care.
What is the cost of proton therapy for prostate cancer?
Medicare reimbursement rates for hypofractionated treatment of prostate cancer show the cost of proton therapy at $26,050, with the cost of traditional radiation at a comparable $24,420. At Provision, prostate patients who choose hypfractionation could potentially cut their number of treatments from 39 down to 20.
Is proton therapy better than surgery for prostate cancer?
Proton therapy does have a higher initial cost than other prostate cancer treatment options. However, patients who receive proton therapy are less likely to experience costly side effects - including secondary cancers and severe problems with the bladder and rectum.
Does insurance cover proton therapy?
Does health insurance cover proton beam therapy? Medicare generally covers proton beam therapy. Coverage varies by insurance company and disease type. Mayo Clinic specialists work with each patient and the health insurance company to determine if proton beam therapy is covered, if that is the recommended treatment.
Who is a candidate for proton therapy?
Particularly good candidates for proton therapy are patients with solid tumors near sensitive organs, such as brain, breast and lung cancers. While, for recurrent, pediatric and ocular cancers, proton radiation is viewed as the standard of care.
How much does proton therapy cost out of pocket?
Proton therapy costs range from about $30,000 to $120,000.
What are the disadvantages of proton therapy?
In general, common side effects of proton therapy include: Fatigue. Hair loss around the part of your body being treated. Skin redness around the part of your body being treated.
Does proton therapy shorten your life?
All issued resolved within six months. “This study provides some prospective evidence that the higher daily radiation dose delivered in hypofractionated proton therapy does not negatively impact patient quality of life,” said senior author Neha Vapiwala, MD, an associate professor of Radiation Oncology.
Can prostate cancer come back after proton therapy?
For example, a study of 1,449 men with prostate cancer treated with brachytherapy, published in the Journal of Urology, found that anywhere from 19% to 26% experienced biochemical recurrence within 12 years, depending on the definition of recurrence.
How much does proton beam therapy cost?
Analysis at 15 years resulted in an expected mean cost of proton beam therapy and IMRT of $63,511 and $36,808, and $64,989 and $39,355 for a 70-year-old and 60-year-old man respectively, with quality-adjusted survival of 8.54 and 8.12 and 9.91 and 9.45 quality-adjusted life-years (QALY), respectively.
What is the success rate of proton therapy?
After 3 years, 46% of patients in the proton therapy group and 49% of those in the traditional radiation therapy group were cancer free. Fifty-six percent of people who received proton therapy and 58% of those who received traditional radiation were still alive after 3 years.
Is proton therapy painful?
Proton therapy does not cause pain, though some patients with physical limitations may experience some discomfort due to positioning. The actual treatment and delivery of the proton beams only takes a couple of minutes.
Consultation Appointment
Your first consultation appointment will last about an hour and will consist of the following steps: An Arkansas Prostate Cancer Center staff membe...
Fiducial Marker Placement
If you and the radiation oncologist determine that radiation therapy is the appropriate treatment, you will be scheduled to return to your urologis...
CT Simulation
CT simulation is the first step in planning your treatment. The treatment-planning sessions help the radiation oncology team accurately locate and...
Beginning your Treatment
Upon completion of treatment planning, your IMRT/IGRT prostate cancer treatment will begin. Treatments usually take place Monday through Friday, at...
More than 10,000 Prostate Patients Treated with Proton Therapy at LLUMC Proton Treatment Center
The James M. Slater, MD Proton Therapy Treatment and Research Center has treated more than 10,000 prostate patients with proton therapy since it opened in 1990. No other proton treatment center in the world has such a contribution to health.
About Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is a condition which abnormal cells grow and form a malignancy on the prostate. Untreated prostate cancer can metastasize to other parts of the body, including the bones, lymph nodes and, in some cases, the rectum, bladder, and lower ureters.
Advantages of Proton Therapy for Prostate Cancer
Proton therapy has proven to show remarkable promise and advantages over conventional therapy-especially in the treatment of prostate cancer. Proton radiation therapy’s accuracy and the control it gives physicians in terms of adapting treatment make it a non-invasive and low-risk option for prostate cancer treatment.
What is Proton Therapy for Prostate Cancer?
Proton therapy for prostate cancer is a treatment option that involves using a focused ray of proton particles to destroy cancerous tissues. The treatment is capable of delivering precise, high doses of radiation to accurately target cancer cells without causing damage to healthy tissue surrounding the prostate.
Benefits of Proton Prostate Cancer Treatment
Proton therapy improves the quality of life for prostate cancer patients and survivors by offering a number of compelling benefits:
Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer?
If you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer we offer precise radiation treatment with minimal side effects.
What is the name of the doctor who oversees radiation therapy?
Radiation Oncologist – The radiation oncologist is the physician who will oversee your radiation therapy treatments. The radiation oncologist works closely with the radiation therapy team to develop your treatment plan and ensure that each treatment is given accurately. The radiation oncologist also monitors your progress and adjusts your treatments as necessary to make sure that the radiation is hitting its targeted tumor while minimizing side effects.
How does radiation oncology work?
The radiation oncologist uses computer technology to deliver the appropriate dose of radiation to the prostate and the surrounding tissues. The technology determines the best way to deliver the treatment by varying, or “modulating,” the intensity of each radiation beam. IMRT is more precise and controlled than other forms of radiation and allows higher radiation doses to be focused on specific regions within the tumor while minimizing the damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
What is a radiation therapist?
Radiation Therapist – The radiation therapist is a specially licensed therapist who administers your daily radiation treatment under the doctor’s prescription and supervision. The radiation therapist also maintains daily records and regularly checks the machines that provide the radiation treatments.
What is the best way to deliver proton therapy for prostate cancer?
Pencil beam scanning is one of the most common ways to deliver proton therapy for prostate cancer. Another common method is double-scattered beam therapy.
What is prostate radiation?
Proton therapy is a type of radiation treatment. Radiation therapy is used to treat many types of cancer, including prostate cancer. It can be used as the primary therapy, but is often combined with other treatments. In conventional radiation, high-energy X-rays are used to target and destroy cancer cells in the prostate.
How long does proton therapy take?
Although the actual proton therapy treatment only takes a few minutes, you should probably block 45 minutes to an hour for the whole procedure. Radiation centers are typically able to work around your schedule.
What is the purpose of prostate antigen testing?
Periodic prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing can help figure out the effectiveness of hormone therapy. The pattern of PSA levels can also help monitor for recurrence.
When to use a prostate syringe?
It’s usually used when cancer has spread outside the prostate or when prostate cancer returns after you’ve had other treatments. It’s also an option if you’re at high risk of recurrence or to shrink the tumor prior to radiation.
What happens if you have cancer and you have first line treatment?
If you’ve been through first-line treatment but still have cancer, your doctor will adjust your treatment accordingly.
Can you have proton therapy for prostate cancer?
Anyone who can have radiation therapy can have proton therapy. Proton therapy can be used as primary treatment for early stage prostate cancer or as part of a total treatment plan for prostate cancer. It’s also an effective treatment for people who require pelvic radiation therapy after undergoing previous therapies.
What is proton radiation?
Proton radiation is used to treat prostate cancer more than any other cancer type. Treatment options may vary on a case-by-case basis, so contact us to consult with our clinicians and find out if proton therapy could be right for you.
Which body part is most sensitive to radiation?
Additionally, the prostate is nestled between two of the most radiation-sensitive structures in the body (the bladder and rectum). This presents a particularly difficult dilemma for radiation oncologists.
Is proton therapy good for prostate cancer?
Though options vary case to case, proton therapy is frequently considered to be an ideal choice for many men . At Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute (HUPTI), our doctors have enormous experience treat ing prostate cancer. Prostate tumors are resistant to radiation and therefore require very high doses of destructive energy.
Does radiation damage cancer cells?
At the same time, the radiation must be high enough to cause effective damage to cancerous cells. Proton therapy meets this seemingly paradoxical issue with a precise, targeted form of radiation. Unlike other treatments, a proton beam has a concentrated range, allowing it to be controlled with a high degree of accuracy.
Can radiation be used to treat prostate cancer?
It can deliver the maximal dose of radiation directly to the tumor while sparing surrounding tissues. This can translate into a lowered risk of prostate damage and a reduced chance of becoming incontinent or impotent. More serious complications are possible, though rare, depending on tumor location and other factors.
My history, in brief
In 2010 I had no symptoms, just a steadily rising PSA that reached 5.9, at which point I had a biopsy. My Gleason score was 3+3, so I was a low risk patient. After 39 proton zaps in Jacksonville I was done with prostate cancer. YAY! Or to be more accurate, YAY-ish.
Is my cancer cured?
Which brings us back to the key question. On one hand, I had proton beam therapy and now I have no symptoms, no notable side effects, and a sub-zero PSA for the last couple years. If there is such a thing as cancer cured with any kind of radiation, this would have to be the definition. You can’t get much more cured than this.
According to my brain
All cells, including cancer cells, are tiny. Extremely tiny. Microscopic. In 2010 I had a lot of cancerous ones, and fortunately they seemed to be localized, happily living and growing in my prostate. So we zapped them with protons and they were no longer happy or growing, and they died. Or to be more accurate, the ones that met the beam died.
Mental meandering
Still, on the outside chance these renegade horse-cells exist, maybe I’m not forever free of prostate cancer. There’s just no way to know without a crystal ball.
The verdict
I hope you now understand my thought process and can accept my view as little more than a feeling and not necessarily fact. And now you probably won’t be surprised that when asked whether I’m cured, I generally answer, “probably,” which is the most genuine response I can give. I have no good reason to think otherwise.
