After confirming that proton therapy will be used to treat your case, physicians will explain hydrogel rectal spacing and its benefits. Rectal spacing gel significantly reduces rectal bleeding and severity of other side effects during and after prostate cancer treatment. If a patient does not want a hydrogel rectal spacing system, other options will be discussed.

Next, you are scanned using CT Sim and MRI. An MRI is not mandatory, but is highly recommended for maximum precision when our dosimetrists create your specialized treatment plan. These plans are evaluated by the physics staff and your physician, who will give the final approval.

You will then come back for a virtual simulation “dry run” and have an image taken to ensure the precise treatment site is accurately treated each time.

During treatment, CT scans may be ordered to ensure that the radiation is consistently shrinking the tumor as expected. These images are reviewed together with your physician.

Once treatment is finished, you enter survivorship. At this point your PSA levels are checked regularly to ensure the levels are dropping or remaining constant.

Proton Therapy delivers a more precise dose of radiation to the tumor site when compared to IMRT, which emits far more radiation to the body than usually necessary. The extra radiation exposure from IMRT impacts the healthy tissue around the tumor, which can increase side effects and even create secondary cancers later in life. With protons, clinical research has proven that secondary cancers are less likely to occur since there is less healthy tissue disrupted in the process.

Prostate Proton Therapy

Prostate Photon Therapy

At Ackerman Cancer Center, we have staff trained in all areas of Radiation Therapy who are cheering you on.

Your radiation therapists will walk with you through treatments each day from start to finish. They are your main point of contact and can assist you in many ways.
Your oncology nurse practitioners are available to you through the entirety of treatment and after completion, as a resource for managing side-effects and any other health concerns.

Your physicians are always available to you and play a significant role in your treatment by monitoring each step- from ordering scans to reviewing treatment plans with you.

Behind the scenes, you will have a team of dosimetrists and physicists who are highly trained in creating the best treatment plan possible for your therapy. These team members consult with your physician and ensure effective and safe care is always delivered in a timely manner.

Our priority is to get you on a path to treatment- quickly. Most insurances* understand the benefits of Proton Therapy for prostate cancer treatment — due to lower side effects and less risk of cancer recurrences. Our financial team will work with you and your insurance company to receive authorization for treatment.

*Humana Gold does not authorize Proton Therapy at this time.

We prioritize the safety and effectiveness of your treatment. Each morning, Ackerman Cancer Center’s physicists ensure our Proton machine produces the most precise beams possible. We call these “Quality Assurance Checks,” and they are never missed.

This verifies that radiation will be emitted to the exact areas your team has planned for and ensures that no beams will stray into other healthy tissues.

Proton Therapy is non-invasive, allowing you to continue day-to-day activities with no recovery time necessary. Prostate cancer surgery (called a radical prostatectomy) requires 6-8 weeks of recovery before returning to normal activities.

Proton Therapy rids cancer cells that could be surrounding the tumor, whereas surgery removes only the tumor itself. Proton Therapy delivers a beam of particles that stops at the tumor site without an exit dose, saving any surrounding healthy tissue around the prostate.

• May experience burning with urination and increased frequency of urination
• Possible fatigue
• Disrupted bowel patterns
• Alterations in sexual functions

We are here to assist with medications and any other means of managing side effects during and after treatment.

No, you are able to schedule a consultation with us without a physician referral.

To do so, contact us at (904) 880-5522 or click here.

We have a team of social workers and support from the Ackerman Cancer Foundation that is available to you for any support needs. Our social work team prioritizes our patients’ financial, mental, and physical needs during and after treatment.

We offer Men Helping Men, a prostate support group for all men in the cancer community. Men Helping Men is an interactive prostate cancer support group that offers a welcoming environment to facilitate helpful conversation, education, and guidance.

Through Men Helping Men, our goal is to assist men with prostate cancer make informed treatment decisions, equip them with tools to ease treatment challenges, and promote a sense of genuine camaraderie and support throughout their prostate cancer journey. Men Helping Men is open to everyone in the prostate cancer community.

To learn more about how we can support you, please contact socialwork@ackermancancer.com.

To register for our next Men Helping Men in-person or virtual event click here.

Ackerman Cancer Center’s MEVION technology results in a reliable, precise machine. This machine ensures that all treatments are delivered safely and effectively. It creates a more robust cancer treatment plan that keeps our patients on track with their care when needed.

The entire Ackerman Cancer Center team is committed to providing the most efficient and most effective cancer care to each and every patient. We are a small, patient-centered private practice where you can count on 24/7 access to our physicians and same or next-day diagnostic imaging and test results.

You’ll find that our Board-Certified physicians, Board-Certified radiation physicists, oncology-certified nurses, certified medical dosimetrists, radiation therapists, and social workers work together to provide the highest-quality cancer care delivered with compassion and understanding.

Proton therapy is available at our Jacksonville facility, conveniently located near major highways, quality lodging, beaches, restaurants, and shopping. The facility offers easy-access parking and a pleasant, comfortable setting.