We have long been concerned that the number of proton beam radiation therapy (PBRT) centers being built here in the USA was way higher than could be justified by the real demand for such services. … READ MORE …
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: cenetr, PBRT, proton, Scripps | 5 Comments »
A presentation at the annual meeting of ASTRO in Boston last week has given us some detailed insight into exactly how many men in America with prostate cancer are getting treated each year with proton beam radiation therapy (PBRT). … READ MORE …
Filed under: Management, Treatment | Tagged: PBRT, proton, radiation, use | Leave a comment »
We have just learned that the randomized clinical trial of proton beam radiation therapy (PBRT) vs. IMRT for men with localized prostate cancer (the so-called PARTIQoL trial) now has 10 active centers recruiting patients and another two centers that expect to start enrolling patients soon. A total of 173 patients have been enrolled to date. … READ MORE …
Filed under: Living with Prostate Cancer, Management, Treatment | Tagged: IMRT, PARTIQoL, PBRT, proton, trial | 22 Comments »
When you go to large meetings with thousands of presentations, you miss things. And here’s one that a lot of people seem to have missed — your sitemaster included. … READ MORE …
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: IMRT, lung, PBRT, proton, randomized, trial | 1 Comment »
We have previously reported on the very good, albeit unremarkable, outcomes of proton beam radiation therapy (PBRT) as administered at the University of Florida Jacksonville. … READ MORE …
Filed under: Living with Prostate Cancer, Management, Treatment | Tagged: comparison, outcomes, PBRT, proton, therapy | 4 Comments »
A new paper in “the Red Journal” prvides some information about the potential of proton beam radiation therapy (PBRT) as a salvage therapy in men who have failed either cryotherapy or first-line high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) as first-line therapy for localized prostate cancer. … READ MORE …
Filed under: Living with Prostate Cancer, Management, Treatment | Tagged: cryotherapy, HIFU, PBRT, proton, radiation, salvage | 3 Comments »
We have recently seen Level 1 evidence that hypofractionation (fewer, more intense treatments) is no worse than conventional fractionation of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). … READ MORE …
Filed under: Diagnosis, Management, Risk, Treatment | Tagged: hypofractionation, PBRT, proton, radiation | 1 Comment »
An article in the August 10 issue of The ASCO Post has recently asked the question, “Is proton-beam therapy facing a difficult future?” … READ MORE …
Filed under: Living with Prostate Cancer, Management, Treatment | Tagged: cost, outcome, PBRT, proton | 5 Comments »
The “New” Prostate Cancer InfoLink has consistently encouraged newly diagnosed patients who are thinking about radiation therapy as treatment for low- and intermediate-risk, localized prostate cancer to consider enrolling in the ongoing, randomized, Phase III clinical trial known as the PARTIQoL trial. … READ MORE …
Filed under: Diagnosis, Living with Prostate Cancer, Management, Treatment | Tagged: IMRT, intensity-modulated, PBRT, proton, radiation, trial | 2 Comments »
Proponents of proton beam radiation therapy (PBRT) have long touted its theoretical, healthy, tissue-sparing effects. However, … READ MORE …
Filed under: Living with Prostate Cancer, Management, Treatment | Tagged: IMRT, intensity-modulated, PBRT, photon, proton, radiation | 9 Comments »
An article in yesterday’s Philadelphia Inquirer looked further into the question of the role of proton beam radiation therapy (PBRT) as a treatment for localized prostate cancer. … READ MORE …
Filed under: Diagnosis, Management, Risk, Treatment | Tagged: IMRT, PBRT, photon, proton | 7 Comments »
A new story on the Kaiser Health News web site has provided us with a relatively neutral perspective on access to proton beam radiation therapy (PBRT) in America (today and tomorrow). … READ MORE …
Filed under: Diagnosis, Living with Prostate Cancer, Management, Risk, Treatment | Tagged: PBRT, proton, radiation | 9 Comments »
On June 5 we had noted that, the day before, the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) released its model policy on the use of proton beam radiation therapy (PBRT) and related reimbursement issues. … READ MORE …
Filed under: Management, Treatment, Uncategorized | Tagged: ASTRO, PBRT, policy, proton beam, radiation | 7 Comments »
According to a “model policy” statement just issued by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), reimbursement for costs related to the treatment of prostate cancer with proton beam radiation therapy (PBRT) should come with some very specific requirements. … READ MORE …
Filed under: Living with Prostate Cancer, Management, Treatment | Tagged: PBRT, policy, proton, reimbursement, therapy | 1 Comment »
One of the lead specialists in the use of proton beam radiation therapy (PBRT) in the treatment of prostate cancer is suggesting that use of this technology should be reimbursed at the same rate as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) — at least until we have better data. … READ MORE …
Filed under: Management, Treatment | Tagged: cost, PBRT, proton, radiation | 1 Comment »
THE "NEW" PROSTATE CANCER INFOLINK 