Neutron Radiation Treatment for Prostate Cancer

Neutron radiation for the treatment of prostate cancer is available in several forms and may be superior to traditional photon (X-ray) radiotherapy (XRT) and electron radiation therapy in killing radioresistent cancer cells at a faster rate per procedure than traditional cancer therapies. Because some forms of neutron radiation therapy are still considered experimental--due to a lack of long-term studies demonstrating its overall effectiveness as an alternative to traditional cancer treatments--some Insurance companies will not cover the cost of the procedure and deem it medically unnecessary.

Neutron Therapy

• Unlike traditional radiation therapy treatments, which disturb cancer cell growth by emitting beams of low-energy transfer (LET) from electron accelerators or other radioactive sources, such as cobalt, neutron therapy uses high-linear energy transfers of radiation to damage cancer cells by nuclear interaction, which more effectively reduces the cancer cell's chances of repairing themselves. Because neutrons do not require oxygen to help kill cancer cells, they are often used in larger cancerous tumors that have not responded to other forms of radiation therapy treatment and can kill more cancer cells faster than traditional therapy using less radiation. For cancers that have spread to other parts of the body, though, chemotherapy on areas outside of the main tumor may still be required.

Types

• There are three types of neutron therapy: neutron beam radiation therapy, neutron brachytherapy and boron neutron capture therapy.

  Neutron Beam Radiation Therapy

  In neutron beam radiation therapy, a specialized external beam is used to kill cancer cells with radioactive neutrons. This type of therapy is available only at a few cancer treatment centers in the United States.

  Brachytherapy

  Brachytherapy is interstitial, or internal therapy, where a radioactive "seed" is implanted into the prostate to damage or kill dividing cancer cells. Healthy tissue is unaffected, as the therapy works only in inhibiting and damaging the dividing cells.

  Boron Neutron Capture Therapy

  In boron neutron capture therapy, a patient is administered an infusion of boron, which will accumulate inside of cancer cells. The patient is then given a radiation therapy treatment with a machine that administers neutron particles to the area of the tumor. The neutron particles interact with the boron and help to destroy the cancer cells.

Precautions

• Neutron radiation therapy is not suitable for pregnant women. Although radiation therapy does make the patient somewhat radioactive to those around him, even with close, prolonged contact the chances of delivering radioactivity to others is very minimal and decreases with distance and passing time. Avoiding close physical contact with pets and humans during the first week after exposure to radiation will eliminate any risk of spreading radioactivity to those around you. There are health concerns associated with radiation treatments, including hair loss, skin irritation, fatigue, diarrhea, dry mouth bladder irritation, nausea, earaches, cough, problems swallowing and potential lung scarring. Speak to your doctor about the benefits of radiation therapy versus the risks.