Favorable Outcomes For Prostate Cancer Patients

By Adam Holtzman, MD

Many men are interested in sexual health following treatment for prostate cancer. In the largest known published analysis of patient-reported sexual health outcomes of potent men at baseline treated with external beam radiotherapy, we reviewed outcomes of men treated at the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute.¹ All patients underwent high-dose, image-guided proton radiotherapy for the treatment of prostate cancer. Sexual function of potent men was almost 70% at 2 years and 61% at 5 years following treatment. This compares very favorably to other reported outcomes and treatment modalities even when factoring for baseline age and comorbidities.  We also identified a highly favorable cohort: 80% men treated with high-dose image-guided proton radiotherapy who report “very good” function at baseline retained potency at 5 years.