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Do you regret having had a prostatectomy vs. radiation, or vice-versa?
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Aug 18 1:23pm | Replies (64)Comment receiving replies
I finished 28 sessions (250 C gy per for a total of 7000 C gy) of EBRT May of this year. I find it interesting that I mainly see Proton radiation in these discussions rather than Photon. I am two months past my last radiation session and am curious about the unknown for side effects in months to come. The local cancer clinic only provided Photon. The radiologist told me there was much more experience with photon than proton. And they used a Truebeam which targets the prostate more accurately. Curious if side effects down the road are better or worse with photon vs proton.
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@edtrucks
When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer if 2023 my R/Os recommended radiation.
Mayo Jacksonville only has photon (building new cancer center which will have Proton). I went through consultation and was to get SBRT. It is a good treatment program.
My PCP wanted me to get second opinion on proton radiation offered at UFHPTI. I did and found I wanted proton based on consultations. My PCP agreed was best for me.
Both radiation treatments successful outcomes are the same. The main difference is that Phtoton enters body at full strength radiaes all tissues and organs in the beam path and exits the body at full strength. Been around very long time and excellent outcomes.
Proton enters the body a low dose, when programmed location is met then realeases the full dose it is programmed for and done not exit the body it stops at where it is programmed to stop (sometimes margins past prostate are programmed in).
So the rationale is that proton radiation will not cause a much secondary damage to other tissues and organs than photon. Proton is used with children as have long life span and the secondary cancers would be lessoned. Proton is also used on eye, brain, etc. because of the ability to tighly control the radiatin beam entering, treating, and does not exit body affecting other organs and tissues like photon does.
What is the difference in succsss rates between them, none. So the rationale of using photon is to lesson the chances of secondary cancers caused by photon hitting other organs and tissues and or radiation damage done to other healthy tissues and organ.
The side affects are similiar because you are talking about radiation of the prostate so both side affects are similiar. If you are interested in learning more about proton radiation I recommended contacting UFHPTI and asking for their handout package. It is free and now obligation to be treated there. In addition to their programs there they include tons of research on proton radiation, and include two books (Walsh book is on of them) on prostate cance.
The long range studies are ongoing about the difference in treatments and short and long term side affects diffference in both types of radiation and different treatments. UFHPTI was give an 25 million dollar federal grant to do long term study on this subect. I am a participant in that study.