The founder and lead surgeon of Lewisville Flower Mound Oncology talks about this treatment.

Lewisville, TX – As the benefits of proton beam therapy become more widely known, more men and their doctors are choosing this option to treat prostate cancer. Providing a possible way to avoid some of the more unsavory side effects of prostate cancer treatment, this alternative to traditional radiotherapy is becoming much more widely available across the country.

“Proton beam therapy destroys cancer cells in much the same way that traditional radiation therapy does,” explains Dr. Gregory Echt, founder and lead surgeon at Lewisville Flower Mound Oncology. “The difference is that proton beams can be much more precisely targeted. This reduces the damaged experienced by nearby healthy tissue during treatment. That, in turn, reduces side effect risks, including the risk for incontinence and impotence.”

A recent study looked into the growing acceptance of proton therapy in treating prostate cancer patients. Researchers found that between the years of 2004 and 2012, the numbers of patients treated with proton beam therapy climbed two fold.

“Proton therapy has also been shown in numerous studies to have very strong results in effectively treating prostate cancer,” Dr. Echt says. “Although still limited in many areas, proton beam therapy is truly coming into its own.”

Proton beam therapy had been slow to spread as a more common treatment in prostate cancer and other cancers because of a lack of availability. The machines needed for this treatment tend to be very big and rather costly. As the therapy becomes more accepted, medical companies are working hard to change these two factors without altering the success rate of the treatment. Developments have already helped bring this technology to more communities in recent years.

“For men diagnosed with prostate cancer, proton beam therapy offers a very viable option to treat the disease while lowering risks,” says Dr. Echt.

Men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer should speak with their healthcare providers about all treatment options. Proton beam therapy may not be available in all areas, nor may it always be recommended.

About Lewisville/Flower Mound Oncology Group
The Lewisville/Flower Mound Oncology Group has state-of-the-art facilities that offer individualized care to patients throughout North Texas. With a team of expert oncologists and other specialists on staff, the Lewisville/Flower Mound Oncology Group treats a variety of cancers and blood disorders with an eye towards the newest advancements available in diagnostic technology and treatments.