KNOXVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A national survey released today reported that men treated for prostate cancer who received proton therapy reported significantly better quality of life during and after treatment than those treated with brachytherapy, surgery or traditional x-ray therapy. The survey carried out via phone and online, by Bryant Research profiled 755 men, ages 50-75, who were surveyed at least 12 months after treatment.
Patients who received proton therapy reported the best outcomes for overall quality of life, urinary function, digestive function, sexual function, ability to remain active during treatment, and living life the way they wanted to after treatment. Notably, more than 70% of proton therapy patients reported that treatment did not interfere at all with their overall quality of life.
“These survey results confirm proton therapy’s ability to target radiation to the cancer site without damaging surrounding healthy tissue,” says Scott Warwick, Vice President of Provision Healthcare. “With proton therapy, patients feel better during treatment and have a better quality of life afterward.”
Other notable results included:
• The proportion of proton therapy patients reporting that their treatment had no impact on their sexual function was almost double that of the next best scoring treatment in this survey.
• Ninety-seven (97%) percent of proton therapy patients said they would recommend their treatment to other men with prostate cancer, significantly higher than the other treatment options.
• Ninety-seven (97%) percent of proton therapy patients said they would select this same treatment option should they have to make the decision today compared to brachytherapy (68%), conventional radiation therapy (66%), and surgery (58%) patients.
Proton therapy is an advanced form of radiation therapy that uses a beam of high-energy protons to treat various forms of cancer. Unlike conventional radiation therapy, in which x-ray beams deposit most of their energy into the healthy tissue prior to entry and upon exit of the tumor site, the protons can be better controlled, allowing most of the energy to be deposited directly into the tumor and thus reducing damage to nearby healthy tissue.
About Provision Healthcare, LLC
Provision Healthcare, LLC, (Provision) was formed in 2005 with the purpose of developing innovative healthcare solutions focused on improving patient care and clinical outcomes and developing support for research, educational, and charitable causes. Provision has developed a unique, comprehensive expertise in proton therapy that distinguishes it from other equipment suppliers and proton and cancer center developers and operators that have a much narrower focus. The combination of a unique expertise and innovative, entrepreneurial approach continues to propel Provision towards a position of industry leadership with respect to both cancer care and proton therapy.
