Proton Therapy for Prostate Cancer

Proton beam therapy for prostate cancer and other malignant conditions is available at the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine, one of a limited number of institutions worldwide offering this innovative therapy. A specific form of external beam radiation, protons are unique in that, unlike conventional x-rays, they lack exit dose, thereby reducing radiation dose to adjacent tissues. Ongoing studies at the Roberts Proton Therapy Center are currently investigating whether this more favorable dose distribution will result in an improved toxicity profile and reduced side effects for patients with prostate cancer.