Comments on: Proton beam vs. intensity-modulated RT: out on the battle lines

By: Sitemaster

Sitemaster — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:15:39 +0000

Dear Mr Ensch:

I am sorry to hear that first-line treatment was not successful in your case. However, …

The fact that IMRT was not effective in eliminating your prostate cancer is unlikely to have been the fault of the procedure. It is far more likely that you already had cancer that had escaped the area that was being radiated, but that this was not recognized at the time of treatment.

Mike

By: Douglas Ensch

Douglas Ensch — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 13:01:11 +0000

I had 42 IMRT treatments between October and December 2005. No complications of significance. PSAs continued to rise from 2006 to the present. Started ADT hormone treatments in February 2008 and recurrent prostate cancer is under control(?).

I don’t really believe that IMRT treatments were 100% effective, maybe 50%.

Just some comments.

Doug

By: jesse farr

jesse farr — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:50:41 +0000

If you are one of those 10 years out and having to undergo additional follow up for those kind of secondary problems, your views would probably be different. I have my doubts about the PBRT community (other than those still doing both and too widely committed to the IMRT side) being unwilling to commit to and/or openly compare the treatment methods. Give them time. The proof will be forthcoming.