Prostate Cancer Treatment in 5 Sessions with Proton Therapy
Men diagnosed with prostate cancer will be interested to learn of a highly effective and extremely precise treatment option that can be completed at the New York Proton Center in just 1-2 weeks. Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) Proton Therapy delivered in five treatments is an option for both new and recurrent prostate cancer.
As with CyberKnife, a form of SBRT delivered using photon (x-ray) radiation, proton SBRT treatment is given over five sessions, but uses highly advanced proton radiation. Both SBRT Proton Therapy and CyberKnife have many benefits, but there are a few differences to consider, according to NYPC radiation oncologist Irini Yacoub, MD.
What is 5-Treatment SBRT Proton Therapy for Prostate Cancer?
Traditionally, radiation therapy for prostate cancer has been administered daily over five to eight weeks. 5-treatment SBRT Proton Therapy is “ultra-hypofractionated,” meaning that higher doses of radiation are administered over the course of just five treatments that take place over one to two weeks. Dr. Yacoub explains that this high dose is possible because proton particles are more controllable than the photon particles used in other forms of radiation therapy. They have a unique physical property called the Bragg peak that enables them to deposit most of their energy inside the tumor where they destroy cancer cells, while better sparing the rectum and bladder.
How is This Different from CyberKnife?
A key difference between 5-treatment SBRT Proton Therapy and CyberKnife is that proton therapy has virtually no “exit dose” behind the area being treated. With prostate cancer, the lack of an exit dose allows for less unnecessary radiation to nearby organs such as the bladder and rectum, potentially resulting in fewer acute and long-term side effects and better preservation of quality of life. In addition, proton therapy’s extreme precision means a reduced risk of secondary cancers from treatment.
What Can Patients Expect?
A man who is approved for the 5-treatment SBRT protocol will go through a few steps to prepare for his first treatment. These include insertion of three tiny markers in the prostate to help guide the delivery of proton therapy by our radiation therapists. At the same time, his radiation oncologist will insert a hyaluronic acid-based gel spacer (Barrigel®) between the prostate and the rectum to further protect the rectum from unnecessary radiation. These are minimally invasive outpatient procedures performed before treatment begins, and the spacer is absorbed by the body over several months. Dr. Yacoub explains that every patient will also have a simulation (planning) session where our team will take CT scan images and MRI of the pelvis that they will use to develop the treatment plan.
Side effects from 5-treatment SBRT Proton Therapy tend to be mild and very tolerable. If needed, we can prescribe medications to manage these side effects.
Following the five treatments, men will have their PSA level measured every three to six months for the next several years. “We typically see the PSA level start to go down a few months after treatment and continue to decline over the next one to two years,” says Dr. Yacoub.
To learn more and request a consultation for proton therapy prostate cancer treatment, complete our request a consultation form.
