Is It Safe To Have Proton Therapy For Prostate Cancer At An 81 Years Of Age?

Posted on Sun, 16 Aug 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 16 Aug 2015 Answered on

Sat, 12 Sep 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I am 81 years old and have been told I have prostrate cancer. My doctor has me on "watch & wait" program. He told me I'm not eligible for surgery because I'm over 80. Would proton therapy be viable for me?

Answered by Dr. Noble Zachariah (47 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Probably very low grade cancer which does not affect your life expectancy

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome and thanks for your query.
Please upload your results to give a better opinion.
Your doctor would have put you on a watch and wait program probably because your cancer is of a very low grade and will not interfere with your life expectancy. In such cases unless it is symptomatic, it is better left alone as you suffer the complications of the surgery or chemotherapy with no added benefit.
Proton therapy is a new technique which has not found any better benefit in prostate cancer when compared to conventional radiotherapy.
Best wishes,

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar