Efficacy of Proton Beam Radiation

I recently listened with interest to a podcast interview with Professor Anthony Zietman, (Professor of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School). about half way through the podcast Professor Zietman expresses some concerns re the efficacy of Proton Beam Radiation in treating prostate cancer. The podcast dated 21st of August 2008 is available below

http://www.prostatecancerupdate.com/default.asp

I would be interested to know if anyone has found either supporting or conflicting academic views on the efficacy of proton beam radiation in treating PCa?

My own journey is available on the YANA site below.

http://www.yananow.net/Mentors/JohnB2.htm

Cheers from the sunny springtime, "LAND DOWN UNDER".

Hi di
Click on the "Listen to Audio Files" icon. Look for Track 5 by Professor Zietman entitled, "Proton Beam Radiation" Or cut and paste the link below.

http://www.prostatecancerupdate.com/download-audio/pcu/2008/2/PCU208_Zietman/PCU2_2008_Zietman_05.mp3

Having gone through treatment at Loma Linda I have a slightly different view of Professor Zietman's comments regarding proton radiation for treating prostate cancer. He is absolutely correct in his discussion of the role prostate patients play in funding the treatment of the unique and deadly cancers of the spine, neck, head and eye. He does imply it may not be ethical to treat prostate cancer patients in lieu of the other cancer. I understood as of last May (2008) when I left Loma Linda only 65% of the Loma Linda proton treated patients were prostate cancer patients. In like fashion Massachusetts only uses about 10% of its capacity to treat prostate cancer patients. I think all of the other proton centers all have limits to the number of prostate cancers being treated.

As the good professor describes there is a penumbra around all beams including x-ray. I wonder which one is worse. Anecdotally when I was in Loma Linda some patients, because of the concern there may be capsular escapes, were treated initially with 20 treatments protons followed by a course of 25 treatments of photons. The implication is photons were used to make sure the wider penumbra captured cancer escapes. Within a few treatments of photons there were noticeable changes in the photon patients. Physically their pallor changed to a sickly gray. Their ability to handle roughage in their diet became the cause of having to spend way to much of their day in a bathroom. Their energy level decreased.

It was so rare to meet a proton patient with one of these symptoms there must be a difference in the damage caused by photons.