2014 NAPT Proton Patient Survey: 

The National Association for Proton Therapy (NAPT) commissioned Dobson DaVanzo & Associates, a healthcare consulting firm, to investigate clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction among men treated with proton therapy for prostate cancer. They were asked to compare these results to those from a 2013 survey (see below). In total, about 3,800 former patients from 12 proton centers responded to the survey. Many who responded to this survey were treated 10, 15, and even 20 or more years ago.

Key Findings

As in past surveys, patients continue to be extremely satisfied with their proton therapy treatment:

• 98 percent believed they made the best treatment decision for themselves.
• 96 percent have recommended proton therapy to others.
• 98 percent rated their proton therapy as "excellent" (88 percent) or "good" (10 percent).
• 96 percent were "satisfied" (15 percent) or "extremely satisfied" (81 percent) with their proton therapy treatment.
• 85 percent reported their quality of life was "better than" (27 percent) or "the same as" (58 percent) before their treatment.
• Those patients who received proton only (i.e. no additional photon or hormonal therapy) reported urinary, bowel, and sexual function outcomes consistent with a cancer-free control group that never had any treatment for prostate cancer. This is significant.
• Overall, 97 percent reported no recurrence of their prostate cancer. Slightly higher for those recently treated, and slightly lower for those treated 10 or more years ago.

View the NAPT press release or read the full Dobson DaVanzo report.

2013 Proton Patient Survey: A Prostate Cancer Report commissioned by NAPT was released at the National Proton Therapy Conference in Washington, D.C. on February 13, 2013 – Ninety nine percent of proton therapy patients believe they made the best prostate cancer treatment decision for themselves. Approximately 96% were satisfied or extremely satisfied with proton therapy; 92% reported that their quality of life was better or the same today than it was before proton therapy; 92% reported that physical health or emotional problems did not interfere, or interfered very little with their social activities; when looking at patients who received only proton therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer (did not receive hormone or photon therapy), proton therapy patients reported lower HRQOL measures than non-treated individuals in only one HRQOL category.

Click here to view the NAPT press release.
Click here to view the executive summary.
Click here to view the complete report.

Click here to view BOB founder, Bob Marckini's talk at the NAPT conference.

The survey report was analyzed by health and economics consulting firm, Dobson DaVanzo. Click here to view Joan DaVanzo’s presentation on the BOB survey results at the NAPT conference.

Another recent survey analysis has found that proton therapy preserves quality of life after treatment, specifically urinary and bowel functions. Read the Loma Linda University Medical Center proton therapy press release or the MD Anderson proton therapy press release.

2009 Proton BOB Member Survey:

View the results of BOB's 2009 survey of proton therapy patients.