A patient’s experience of proton beam therapy treatment

Dennis Allen was a prostate cancer patient who was diagnosed with the disease last year and opted for proton beam therapy after doing his own research.

“I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in March 2018. A PSA test came back as high and I was referred to the Churchill Hospital in Oxfordshire, where I had a biopsy.

“The biopsy confirmed that it was cancer. As a very healthy person, I was shocked. I was referred to a number of consultants and oncologists and they spoke to me about conventional radiotherapy and a prostatectomy, but nobody mentioned proton beam therapy.

Many prostate cancer sufferers are risking dreadful side effects, including impotence and incontinence, and it could potentially be avoided.

No one had told me Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) was an option

“Here I was, facing a high chance of extreme side effects such as impotence and incontinence with conventional treatments (40% chance of both occurring) and yet I had no symptoms to suggest there was anything wrong with me. I did my own research and met a friend who had heard about proton beam therapy and, after investigation, I decided to opt for the treatment. I was shocked and frustrated that up until that point, no one told me about this treatment, despite the enormous benefits.

I received proton treatment at the Rutherford centre in Newport in October 2018, which lasted for four weeks. Each treatment session under the beam only lasted for a few minutes – it takes longer to make a slice of toast – and I felt no pain or discomfort throughout. I feel absolutely normal, as if I have been cured of a disease I never knew I had. I had no symptoms, felt nothing during the treatment and had no side effects afterwards.

“I was very fortunate to receive this treatment. Many prostate cancer sufferers are risking dreadful side effects, including impotence and incontinence, and it could potentially be avoided. It is crucial that people are aware of this option.”