Prostate Adenocarcinoma occurs in approximately 2 out of 1,000 men and is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men the US. Fortunately improved diagnostic tools ensure that most prostate cancers are detected at the early stages when they can be treated successfully.

Proton beam therapy is currently used to treat T1 stage prostate adenocarcinoma minimizing the radiation dose to the rectum, bladder and femoral heads "hip-joints," while conforming the high radiation dose to the prostate and seminal vesicles. Patients selected to receive proton radiation therapy undergo 41 daily treatments. Each treatment session starts with 3D ultrasound imaging and/or diagnostic quality x-ray imaging to ensure high precision focusing of the proton beam onto the prostate. Pre-treatment imaging allows physicians to reduce the treatment margins around the prostate necessary when internal organ motion is not considered. See the images below:

Prostate Adenocarcinoma
	Radiation delivered to the prostate using proton beam. The radiation "isodoses" conform to the shape of the prostate sparing much of the adjacent bladder and rectum.
Click to Enlarge

Clinical trials are currently in progress to determine whether or not this approach is superior to more traditional radiation techniques.