Will seed implants improve my likelihood of being cured compared to protons?

Absolutely YES! Cure rates with seed implants are 20 to 40% better than the best results ever published with proton therapy. Seed implants have the unique advantage of having the radiation placed directly into the cancer. The radiation is concentrated where it needs to be, without the unnecessary high dose radiation of areas outside the prostate, as occurs with proton therapy.

With the seeds being placed directly in the prostate, higher doses of radiation can be given to the cancer, resulting in a much higher BED (biologically effective dose). The 20-50% higher BED seen with seed implants results in much greater cancer killing.

A recent study from the largest proton center in the country at Loma Linda, California reported that for 1,225 men with prostate cancer, the 5-year success rate with proton therapy was only 73 %. For those with high risk disease, the success rate was only 43% (Slater, 2004) This is in comparison to greater than 95% success rates with seed implants for early stage disease, and 85% success rates for high risk disease (Bittner, Merrick, 2008). Seed implants allow the ultimate concentration of radiation directly in the prostate, keeping surrounding areas at the lowest dose possible.

With the seeds being placed directly in the prostate, higher doses of radiation can be given to the cancer, resulting in a much higher BED (biologically effective dose). The 20-50% higher BED seen with seed implants results in much greater cancer killing.