Proton radiation therapy is an advanced and extremely precise form of radiation treatment that targets and destroys tumor cells while reducing the risks of harmful side effects. It may be right for you if you are newly diagnosed with prostate cancer or if you have been found to have a recurrence after prior surgery or radiation therapy.
Many of our prostate cancer patients can be treated in as few as five treatments with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) proton therapy delivered over just one or two weeks. SBRT involves delivering a higher dose of radiation per treatment, administered in just five days and delivered every other day. This approach significantly reduces the treatment duration compared to the standard five-week course of radiation therapy. The accelerated treatment schedule offers the advantage of completing therapy faster, making it more convenient, particularly for patients traveling from outside of the New York City area.
Treatment with proton therapy kills prostate cancer cells with a very high radiation dose. But because the protons are also highly targeted, they deliver more radiation to the prostate cancer and less to healthy organs surrounding the prostate gland, like the rectum, bowel, bladder, and hip bones. As a result, proton therapy minimizes the likelihood of side effects and can better preserve your quality of life during and after treatment.
The New York Proton Center has a singular focus—to provide adults and children with cancer the most sophisticated and advanced form of radiation therapy. While we do not provide surgery or chemotherapy, some of our patients do receive these important treatments from other healthcare providers in coordination with proton therapy.
Compared to conventional radiation treatment including Cyberknife/SBRT, proton therapy can deliver high radiation doses to the prostate and pelvic lymph nodes while better sparing the healthy bowel and bladder. For men with prostate cancer, the side effects of traditional radiation treatment can have serious quality of life implications—particularly relating to urinary, bowel and erectile function.
Because proton therapy reduces the amount of radiation to healthy organs near the prostate by 80%–allowing significantly less unnecessary irradiation to the bladder, bowels, and surrounding healthy tissues–there is reduced risk of secondary cancers and other long-term effects compared to traditional radiation.
For these reasons, proton therapy is particularly beneficial for men with high-risk prostate cancer that has spread or is at risk of spreading to the lymph nodes and in treating patients with prostate cancer that has returned after previous radiation therapy or prostatectomy.
Proton therapy treatments are delivered on an outpatient basis. Most patients continue their normal activities throughout treatment, without having their quality of life impacted by their proton therapy.
If you have been diagnosed with a prostate cancer, proton therapy may be an excellent treatment option for you. To request a consultation, please complete the form below or call. In-person and telemedicine options are available.
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When Gregory Cohen, a 71-year-old food enthusiast with a love of sports cars, was diagnosed with prostate cancer, his search for treatment options led him to proton therapy. What Greg did not realize at the time is what a life-changing experience his treatment would be. Today Greg is in remission. But he’ll never forget the remarkable team at New York Proton Center that supported him throughout his journey.
Localized prostate cancer, which includes stage 1, stage 2, and stage 3 cancer, has not grown into nearby tissues or more distant body parts. There are three types:
The New York Proton Center accepts both Medicare and Medicaid and is in-network with nearly all commercial insurances. We will work with you to complete all the paperwork, explain to your insurance company the reasoning behind your treatment plan and assist you throughout the process.