HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

proton Vs photon

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 11/14/2022 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
Havent posted for a while
On AS and stil doin good
curious about the pros and cons of proton therapy
My understanding is that it is believed to be equally effect as photon
it is more expensive and insurance may not cover it
in theory side effect are supposed to be less but at this time there are no large studies on this to provide evidence in particular with regards to prostate cancer
accuracy is a mixed bag I have heard different things on this

I am asking for a freind since I have not done a deep dive on this cause at this time I do not need tratment. He favors proton cause of concern of side effect. he hasnt checked with insurance yet but sya if they dont cover it he will fight it. I have told him as far as I know most info is based on theory. For prostate cancer cause there is a lot in tight spaces this may be exaggerated the lower side effect issue may be exagerated. so looking for info from this groupcause i dont know it all
Posted 11/14/2022 5:08 AM (GMT 0)
WRT cost of Proton treatment, I was treated at the Maryland Proton Treatment Center, and was told that because they are associated w/ the UofMd Med center, they are required (due to state funding?) to charge the same for Protons as they do for photons at UM. In any case, I had no insurance issues. If Baltimore is feasible for your friend, he might consider MPTC.
Posted 11/14/2022 6:00 AM (GMT 0)
in phila
although 2 hr drive should be doable if important enough
at least I would for better treatment.
though not sure that proton is t&at much better. that's what I am trying to find out
why did you choose
Posted 11/14/2022 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
mufjem, We all can become biased as a result of either good or bad past experience. In my case as a low risk Gleason 6 guy with a terrific outcome I’m biased to SBRT and have a difficult time understanding any benefits from Proton. I believe my great result are the norm and not the exception. Five treatments verses forty or more makes it very convenient. Terry
Posted 11/15/2022 1:05 AM (GMT 0)
There is proton beam at Penn in Philadelphia I believe.

Proton beam for prostate cancer was approved by Medicare so they do not fight it very hard. Private insurance is still a different matter than those on Medicare.

Proton beam is used on such a small percentage of PCa patients that it takes forever for them to get anything studied and approved. There is no reason proton can not do shorter treatment periods and something similar to SBRT given it’s better precision. Just a matter of obtaining the necessary data and time.
Posted 11/15/2022 3:50 AM (GMT 0)
The theory behind protons suggests it’d be better, the data isn’t screaming that to be the case. Or even whispering it. Pretty ambiguous. Kind of surprising to me.

Big trial going on now comparing the two. Be a while before any data is available.

https://comppare.org/
Posted 11/15/2022 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
My reason for choosing Proton was primarily due to an unusual unrelated health issue combined with the overall treatment plan offered by MPTC. Secondarily was the idea of being treated at a major cancer center (Uof MD) vs a local urology group. The possibility of lesser side effects was only the third reason - primarily due to the lack of any clear evidence that there are lesser side effects.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply