Proton treatment for Prostate cancer:
Proton treatment for several different delicate cancer treatments have developed for structures like eyes. But there is little scientific evidence for Prostate cancer still, demand seems to grow.
Centers for proton treatment are immensely expensive typically $50-100 million per center due to the need to build cyclotrons to make the protons. Already 10 such centers have been built around the country and plans for 10 more are on the books. Proton treatments can cost $25-40,000 and it seems that at least some insurance companies are covering part or all of this cost. But there has been no long term studies yet.
The real issue with prostate cancer is that there is growing evidence that doing nothing at all for aging men with their "cancerous" prostates is a far more effective way to deal with the issue. Especially since the PSA test is far from accurate and any treatment can cause more problems than the cancer itself. AND there seems to be little change of their quality of life after such treatments.
Now with these proton treatments they have the opportunity to get a treatment that does little for their prostates but cost huge fees.
information from NPR 10/29/2012
Proton treatment for several different delicate cancer treatments have developed for structures like eyes. But there is little scientific evidence for Prostate cancer still, demand seems to grow.
Centers for proton treatment are immensely expensive typically $50-100 million per center due to the need to build cyclotrons to make the protons. Already 10 such centers have been built around the country and plans for 10 more are on the books. Proton treatments can cost $25-40,000 and it seems that at least some insurance companies are covering part or all of this cost. But there has been no long term studies yet.
The real issue with prostate cancer is that there is growing evidence that doing nothing at all for aging men with their "cancerous" prostates is a far more effective way to deal with the issue. Especially since the PSA test is far from accurate and any treatment can cause more problems than the cancer itself. AND there seems to be little change of their quality of life after such treatments.
Now with these proton treatments they have the opportunity to get a treatment that does little for their prostates but cost huge fees.
information from NPR 10/29/2012