Targeted radiation may help men avoid impotence

A preliminary study of nearly 100 men aged 55 and younger suggests that a highly targeted form of radiation therapy may help younger men to avoid becoming impotent after treatment for prostate cancer.

The researchers say proton therapy was also associated with an extremely low rate of recurrence and a low risk of side effects as six months after undergoing proton therapy, 90% of participants who had been sexually active before treatment remained sexually active.

The findings were presented at ASTRO’s annual meeting.