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Radiation & Recurrence Treatment (Inside & Outside Prostate)
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: May 4 11:47am | Replies (30)Comment receiving replies
@jeffmarc
That’s not true, you can radiate with Proton.
“ In many cases, if a patient has reached their lifetime dose limit from conventional X-ray radiation, proton therapy is the only safe option for further radiation treatment.” from Hutchinson cancer center.
“it is frequently used to treat recurrent tumors in areas that have previously received maximum doses of radiation, a scenario often referred to as re-irradiation.” from Georgetown University.
Dave 3+4
Replies to "@jeffmarc That’s not true, you can radiate with Proton. “ In many cases, if a patient..."
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@clevelandguy
You point out an important issue, Proton can be used in some cases where the maximum radiation was given previously.
There do seem to be some limitations.
Time Since Last Treatment: Generally, a significant amount of time (often several years) must have passed since the first round.
Location of Recurrence: If the cancer is strictly confined to the prostate, it is easier to treat. If it has spread to surrounding tissues that were also fully irradiated, it is more complex.
While proton therapy is a viable option for recurrence, it is often considered experimental or specialized in this context. It should be performed by a team experienced in re-irradiation to ensure the best balance between killing the cancer and avoiding damage to surrounding healthy organs.