This is a question that our radiation expert Gary should answer, and he will likely see this post tomorrow. But if you do a search of the message board you will see that the differences between all three types of radiation have been discussed here. They are good posts, informative and worth reading. Also do a search in the main site. The issues have been discussed there, and in the OC in the news there are several articles about proton therapy vs. the others. Just as a side note, when you post, you do not have to put a return in every time you get to the edge of the small white box, just keep on typing. The type will become dynamic in anyone's display and expand and contact to fit the size of the window on his or her monitor.

Lastly, please do not let your husband "drag his feet". Do everything you can to get him to decide on treatment and move forward soon. This cancer is very unforgiving of half measures or delays. LLU's response seems logical. Proton radiation is very precise and in some cases that is an advantage. In late stage head and neck cancers the tissues surrounding the primary lesion are frequently involved. That means that radiation to a larger area is indicated, and therefore precise delivery to a small target (such as in a brain lesion) is not desirable, but actually may not get all the cells that are involved. For some even IMRT is not chosen for this reason, though it can be "mapped" to hit the primary hard and deliver lesser radiation to surrounding tissues and known pathways of metastasis.

Prostate cancer by nature, the majority of the time, stays isolated to the gland itself, hence the long life span of individuals who even choose not to be treated... since there is less likelihood of mets to vital organs. This also means that a very targeted proton therapy is highly effective and has fewer side effects than other radiation delivery types when dealing with prostate cancer. oral cancer is another animal altogether.