@climateguy
I am not actively posting on MC Connect but if get a tagged question directly to glad to reply.

I am going copy on this post (directly from institution) information I copied about proton radiation from UFHPTI on benefits of proton radiation versus photon. I am not a medical professional or medical expert on PC. I copied information from a major medical institution and a R/O who have (institution and him) have been doing Proton Radiation for over 20 years. The institution and him are the PC experts.

I also will post a recent article from Mayo Clinic information book on the new cancer center now built at Mayo Jacksonville and the benefits of Proton Radiation and how it enhances the treatment options. I will have to do that on separate reply to you as getting to long.

I did not have Brachytherapy. I cannot give you my personal experience with that, how it works, pros cons just limit my posts to what my direct experience. I am sure others on MCC that have had Brachytherapy can give you their personal experience with it and the pros and cons of it.

I think from your post the Brachytherapy that treatment is strictly to a specific arear or tumor lesion. Is that correct. If So I will pass on what my UFHPTI R/O told me during consultations.

I asked does he just radiate the area that was identified by MRI and biopsies that showed cancer or entire prostrate. He replied that he treats the entire prostate. He explained they did not want to miss an area that the biopsies were not done on nor MRI showed. He went on to explain that in early stages of PC the cancer is at cellular level and does not show up as a tumor or lesion stage. Again this comes from a UFHPTI R/O doing proton radiation for over 20 years from one of the most experience proton radiation treatment facilities in the world.

I think each individual has to make his own decision of quality of life versus quantity of life and what treatment plan is best for them. No one can tell you what to do or not do nor should they try. I hope the copied (directly copied the article) helps explain proton radiation versus photon. I will also copy on separate reply Mayo information article on new cancer center at Mayo Jacksonville that will now be able to offer proton radiation.

Why your doctor discounted proton radiation. Don't know but have seen this both personally and what others have posted on MCC. I think some R/Os who have been doing photon radiation and/or specific types of treatments try to lean toward what they are experienced on and have been doing. I ran into this at Jacksonville where at that time could only offer photon.

UFHPTI article on proton radiation. You can read this directly from their web site.
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Effective Prostate Cancer Treatment
Proton Therapy Treats Prostate Cancer with a Low Risk of Side Effects.
The five-year results of over 1,300 men treated at UF Health Proton Therapy Institute for prostate cancer were recently published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.1 As reported by UF researchers, the results revealed that the majority of these men are living cancer free with minimal to no side effects. The five-year survival rates for low, intermediate, and high-risk prostate cancer are 99%, 94%, and 74% respectively – with less than 1% having experienced any bowel issues and less than 3% having experienced any urinary issues.

Because of the comparatively low occurrence of side effects such as incontinence, impotence, and fatigue, prostate cancer patients receiving proton therapy are able to continue working, playing, and living relatively normal lives both during and after treatment. That’s why more and more patients with prostate cancer are choosing proton therapy.

How Proton Therapy Effectively Treats Prostate Cancer
Proton therapy treats prostate cancer with high doses of radiation that are more accurate, and potentially more effective, than traditional radiation. Our targeted proton beams focus most of their destructive energy at the tumor site, therefore causing less damage to healthy surrounding tissue as they enter the body. Because of this, proton therapy patients don’t have to worry about many of the side effects and additional healthy tissue damage that is commonly associated with X-ray therapy.

Typically, proton therapy for prostate cancer is given over an eight-week period with 39 treatments. There is new evidence from the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute that a six-week, 28-treatment course of proton therapy is highly effective and achieves excellent prostate cancer patient outcomes. Researchers again noted minimal physician-assessed toxicity and excellent patient-reported outcomes. At seven years after treatment, the freedom from biochemical progression (FFBP) rate was 95.2% with continued low side effect rates.3