With an estimated 220,000 American men diagnosed with prostate cancer each and every year, the need for more effective and faster treatments is high. Researchers are finding that higher-dose radiation therapy to treat this disease may, in fact, deliver benefits for patients while effectively killing off cancer cells more rapidly than traditional courses of treatment.


The findings of two separate studies on this accelerated radiotherapy treatment option were recently released. The first study was conducted in the Netherlands. It shows that a more rapid form of radiation therapy delivered a 5-year relapse-free survival rate of about 80 percent compared to 77 percent for traditional therapy. A similar study conducted in the United States also showed positive results with an 82 percent versus 76 percent rate at 7 years recorded. Researchers, however, note that in both studies statistical significance was not high. The studies did, however, show that toxicity increases were also not significant, which is a major positive for men seeking a faster course of treatment.

While the shorter, more intense course of treatment did not produce results that were glaringly better than conventional treatment, the results of both studies are still quite positive, healthcare professionals say. The outcomes show that a more condensed treatment schedule can produce the desired results without raising toxicity levels greatly. In essence, the findings show that patient convenience does not have to be sacrificed in favor of disease control.

 Men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer are urged to discuss all treatment options with their healthcare providers. In some cases, an active surveillance approach can help men avoid the need for treatments such as radiotherapy. If radiation is indicated, however, studies are showing that higher intensity, shorter courses of treatment may deliver the desired results. The best course of treatment will depend on a man’s particular case, the stage of the disease and stated treatment goals.