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Prostate Cancer Patients Report on

Benefits of Proton Therapy

Dobson DaVanzo & Associates, LLC Vienna, VA 703.260.1760 www.dobsondavanzo.com

Prostate Cancer Patients Report on Benefits of Proton Therapy

Submitted to:

National Association for Proton Therapy (NAPT)

Submitted by:

Dobson|DaVanzo Joan E. DaVanzo, Ph.D., M.S.W.

Kevin Reuter

Anne Pick, M.P.H.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013 — Final Report

PROSTATE CANCER PATIENTS REPORT ON BENEFITS OF PROTON THERAPY Dobson|DaVanzo

Table of Contents

Introduction ............................................................................................ 4

Background ........................................................................................ 4

Methods ............................................................................................. 5

Key Findings ....................................................................................... 5

Detailed Study Findings........................................................................... 7

Respondent Demographics ................................................................ 7

EPIC Findings ...................................................................................... 9

Satisfaction with Proton Therapy .................................................... 17

Discussion.............................................................................................. 23

PROSTATE CANCER PATIENTS REPORT ON BENEFITS OF PROTON THERAPY FINAL REPORT 12.128 | 4 Dobson|DaVanzo

The National Association for Proton Therapy (NAPT) commissioned Dobson DaVanzo &

Associates, LLC (Dobson | DaVanzo) to investigate outcomes and patient satisfaction

associated with the use of proton therapy in treating prostate cancer.

Background Close to 2,000 patients who were treated for prostate cancer with proton therapy from 1991

to 2010 completed a survey distributed by the Brotherhood of the Balloon (BoB), which

examined satisfaction with care, quality of life, emotional and physical health limitations,

urinary function, sexual function, bladder function, and bowel function. These 2,000

patients represent approximately 20 percent of all patients who had received proton therapy

for prostate cancer prior to 2010.

The BoB survey incorporated the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC), a

validated instrument developed by the University of Michigan and UCLA that measures

health related quality of life (HRQOL), specifically among men with prostate cancer.

EPIC assesses a patient’s Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) in urinary, sexual,

bowel, and hormonal domains. In addition, EPIC derives subscales for each category,

which examine function (measure habits associated with the category) and bother (degree

of annoyance associated with symptoms related to the category) for each HRQOL

category. Urinary scores also contain subcategories related to incontinence (measures

loss of bladder control) and irritation/obstruction (measures pain or bleeding associated

with urination). The BoB survey also incorporated the American Urological Association

(AUA) symptom index, which provides a clinical context for urinary measures (a higher

score indicating more severe symptoms), and a Medical Outcomes Study SF-12 score

which is a patient’s report of physical and mental health status (a higher score indicating

better HRQOL)1. Additionally, items were included to examine patient demographics,

1 THE SF-12 is a validated measure of General Health Function developed by RAND. It examines physical and mental

HRQOL, and provides both a physical and mental HRQOL score.

Introduction

Detailed Study Findings


self-rated health status, clinical characteristics, type of treatment received, and reported

problems prior to treatment.

Methods Our first step was to tabulate all of the survey responses and calculate descriptive

statistics to describe the following characteristics of the sample: age distribution, self-

rated health status, types of treatment received, whether the cancer was in remission, pre-

treatment PSA, pre-treatment Gleason Score, pre-treatment T-Stage, and whether

respondent was experiencing any problems with bowel, bladder, or sexual functioning

prior to treatment.

Our next step was to calculate EPIC scores based on each patients’ reported post-treatment

condition. EPIC Summary Scores were calculated using scoring instructions provided by

the University of Michigan and UCLA. Responses for each item in the survey form a Likert

scale, transformed linearly to a 0-100 scale. For each item, a higher score represents a better

Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL).

Multi-item summary scores were then created for urinary, bowel, sexual, and hormonal

symptoms by averaging items within a response category corresponding to these

symptoms. Subscale scores were also calculated for these symptoms, which included

function (item measures habits associated with the category) and bother (item measures

degree of annoyance associated with symptoms related to the category). Urinary scores also

contain subcategories related to incontinence (item that measures loss of bladder control)

and irritation/obstruction (items that measure pain or bleeding associated with urination).

An AUA symptom index, and Medical Outcomes Study SF-12 score was also calculated

for each patient.

These measures were then cross-tabulated by treatment modality (whether the patient

received proton therapy only or proton plus another type of therapy: hormone or photon

therapy), by time elapsed since treatment, and by whether the patient had reported problems

associated with sexual, urinary, or bowel function prior to treatment. Individual items

relating to satisfaction with proton therapy, quality of life, level of pain, and physical and

emotional functioning were also cross tabulated with time since completing proton therapy

and treatment modality. Differences were tested using Chi-square and t-tests.

Key Findings Approximately 99 percent of respondents stated that they believed they made the best

treatment decision for themselves, and 98 percent reported that they had recommended

proton therapy to others (Exhibit 15).

Approximately 96 percent of patients were satisfied or extremely satisfied with proton

therapy (Exhibit 19).



Ninety-one percent of patients reported that their quality of life was better or the same

today than it was before their treatment, and only 9 percent reported that their quality of

life was worse (Exhibit 21).

Ninety-three percent of respondents reported that physical health or emotional

problems did not interfere, or interfered very little, with their social activities (Exhibit

23).

Those who completed proton therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer had similar

urinary, bowel, and hormonal HRQOL scores as healthy individuals. Proton therapy

patients did have lower sexual HRQOL scores than healthy individuals; however this

finding was mostly associated with those patients who received hormone therapy in

addition to proton therapy. 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 equivalent HRQOL to healthy individuals, except for one

HRQOL category (“Sexual Bother”2) (Exhibit 3).

Respondents who were treated with photon therapy in addition to proton therapy had

lower bowel, sexual, and hormonal HRQOL scores than proton only respondents

(Exhibit 4a). Those who received hormone therapy in addition to proton therapy had

lower sexual and hormonal HRQOL scores than proton only respondents.

Those receiving photon or hormone therapy in addition to proton therapy also reported

lower SF-12 Physical Component Score (PCS) scores compared to those only receiving

proton therapy, indicating a lower physical HRQOL (Exhibit 4b).

2 Patients rating of the level of annoyance associated with their sexual symptoms


Respondent Demographics More than half of respondents (52.5%) completed the BoB survey at least 3 years

following the completion of their treatment (Exhibit 1). All survey respondents received

proton therapy (n=1862), 16 percent of respondents also received hormone therapy, and

10 percent received photon therapy (Exhibit 2). Additionally, most respondents (96.9

percent) had not received any other treatment prior to their proton therapy. The majority

of respondents received proton therapy between ages 61 and 70 with over one-quarter

(28.1 percent) receiving proton therapy between ages 66 and 70. Prior to treatment, over

one-quarter of patients (27.3 percent) reported problems with urinary function, and 23.8

percent reported problems with sexual function. Overall, less than four percent of

respondents reported “Fair” or “Poor” health following proton therapy, while 78 percent

reported “Very Good” or “Excellent” health.




Exhibit 1. Respondent’s Time Elapsed since the Completion of Proton Therapy to Completing

the Survey

Source: Dobson | DaVanzo analysis of BOB Survey Data

Exhibit 2: Characteristics of Sample

Variable Results

Age Distribution (n=1862) 56-60 61-65 66-70 71-75 76+

17.0% 22.4% 28.1% 15.2% 6.1%

Self Rated Health Status (n=1860) Excellent Very Good Good Fair Poor

34.0% 44.3% 18.3% 3.1% 0.3%

Problems Experienced Prior to Treatment

(n=798)

Sexual Urinary Bowel Other

23.8% 27.3% 1.8% 0.8%

Treatment Received Prior to Proton (n=109) Surgery Cyro HIFU Other

48 4 1 59

Type of Treatment Received (n=1862) Proton Photon Hormones

100.0% 10.0% 16.2%

Pre-treatment T-Stage (n=1026) T1 T2 T3

708 295 23

Cancer in Remission (n=1760) Yes No

95.1% 4.9%

Pre-treatment PSA (n=1750) Mean Median Standard Dev.

7.2 5.9 7.7

Pre-treatment Gleason Score (n=1586) Mean Median Standard Dev.

6.5 6.0 0.9


265

352

305

236

144 138

497

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

0 years 1 years 2 years 3 years 4 years 5 years 6 or more

years

Nu

mb

er o

f R

esp

on

den

ts

Years Since Treatment



EPIC Findings EPIC Scores were compared for the following three subgroups of patients: 1) respondents who

received proton therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer; 2) respondents who received only

proton therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer (excludes patients also receiving hormone or

photon therapy); 3) respondents who did not have prostate cancer.

We found no differences in urinary or bowel summary or subscale scores across the three groups

(Exhibit 3). Sexual summary scores, and sexual bother and function sub-scores however, were

lower for those who had received proton therapy (indicating a lower HRQOL) than for the

healthy control group (p<0.05). When comparing those who received only proton therapy for the

treatment of their prostate cancer (excluding those who also received photon or hormone therapy),

proton only therapy patients had a significantly lower HRQOL in only the “Sexual Bother”

category than the healthy group (p<0.05), but higher than those who received either hormone or

photon therapy.

Exhibits 4a and 4b show a comparison across groups who had prostate cancer: 1) patients who

received only proton therapy; 2) patients who received proton therapy plus photon therapy, and;

3) patients who received hormone therapy in addition to proton therapy. Exhibit 4a shows

summary EPIC scores, Exhibit 4b shows the sub-scores. We found greater variation in EPIC

scores across these groups (some of this variation is related to unequal group sizes).

However, those patients who had received only proton therapy had the highest EPIC scores on 13

of the 18 sub-score measures. The proton only patients had the highest EPIC scores for “Sexual

Summary,” “Sexual Function,” and “Sexual Bother” (p<0.05), as well as “Hormonal Summary,”

“Hormonal Function,” and “Hormonal Bother” (p<0.05). Those also being treated with hormone

therapy had a sexual summary score of 39.9 and those also being treated with photon therapy had

a sexual summary score of 35.9. These scores are lower than the Sexual Summary score of those

receiving only proton therapy for their treatment (57.8) (p<0.05).

Respondents who received photon therapy had lower bowel and hormonal scores (p<0.05), while

those receiving hormone therapy had lower hormonal scores compared to proton only patients

(p<0.05).

Exhibit 5 shows that the length of time a patient has been receiving hormone therapy is also

associated with lower sexual HRQOL. In particular, those on hormone therapy for greater than 24

months had an average EPIC sexual function score of just 26.2 (vs. 37.6 for those on hormone

therapy for less than 24 months) (p<0.05). Overall, however, length of hormone therapy was not

associated with major differences between the groups (due to small sample sizes).



Exhibit 3. EPIC Scores of Patients Who Have Underwent Proton Therapy for Treatment of Prostate

Cancer Compared to EPIC Scores of Patients Who Have Not Been Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer.

Patients w/ Prostate Cancer who Had Proton Therapy

(n=1961)

Patients w/ Prostate Cancer who only Had

Proton Therapy (n=1487)

Patients w/o Prostate Cancer

(n=112)

Urinary Summary 89.2 89.5 89.5

Urinary Function 94.0 94.3 95.5

Urinary Bother 85.9 86.0 85.2

Urinary Irritative 88.4 88.5 88.2

Urinary Incontinence 92.0 92.5 92.9

Bowel Summary 92.3 92.7 92.4

Bowel Function 92.6 92.9 92.1

Bowel Bother 92.0 92.4 92.8

Sexual Summary 53.7* 57.8 61.4

Sexual Function 49.5* 53.7 55.8

Sexual Bother 63.1* 66.7* 74.3

Hormonal Summary 92.3 93.3 91.7

Hormonal Function 90.3 91.4 90.5

Hormonal Bother 94.0 94.9* 92.8

Satisfaction 93.9 94.6 -

AUA Symptom Score 6.3 6.2 -

SF-12 PCS 52.0 52.5 -

SF-12 MCS 55.9 55.9 - Source: Dobson | DaVanzo analysis of BOB Survey Data. *p<0.05. Note: SF-12 PCS= Physical Component Score, a self-

rated physical health status. SF-12 MCS= Mental Component Score, a self-rated mental health status.

Exhibit 4a. EPIC Scores of Patients Who Have Underwent Proton Therapy for Treatment of Prostate

Cancer by Treatment Modality (Summary Scores)

Just Proton (n=1487) Proton and Photon

(n=186) Proton and Hormone

(n=302)


Bowel Summary 92.7 90.2* 91.3

Sexual Summary 57.8* 35.9* 39.9*

Hormonal Summary 93.3* 88.4* 87.7* Source: Dobson | DaVanzo analysis of BOB Survey Data. *p<0.05



Exhibit 4b. EPIC Scores of Patients Who Have Underwent Proton Therapy for Treatment of Prostate

Cancer by Treatment Modality

Just Proton

(n=1487) Proton and Photon

(n=186) Proton and Hormone

(n=302)


Urinary Function 94.3 93.5 93.6

Urinary Bother 86.0 86.0 86.2

Urinary Irritative 88.5 88.9 89.0

Urinary Incontinence 92.5 91.0 91.2

Bowel Summary 92.7 90.2* 91.3

Bowel Function 92.9 90.5* 91.7

Bowel Bother 92.4 89.8* 90.8

Sexual Summary 57.8* 35.9* 39.9*

Sexual Function 53.7* 30.8* 35.5*

Sexual Bother 66.7* 47.3* 50.2*

Hormonal Summary 93.3* 88.4* 87.7*

Hormonal Function 91.4* 86.1* 84.9*

Hormonal Bother 94.9* 90.3* 90.0*

Satisfaction 94.6 90.6* 93.2

AUA Symptom Score 6.2 6.4 6.6

SF-12 PCS 52.5 50.0* 50.3*

SF-12 MCS 55.9 56.1 55.9 Source: Dobson | DaVanzo analysis of BOB Survey Data. *p<0.05



Exhibit 5. EPIC Scores of Patients Who Were Treated with Hormone Therapy in

Addition to Proton Therapy by Months Treated with Hormone Therapy

<24 months Hormone

Therapy (n=247) ≥24 months Hormone

Therapy (n=55)

Urinary Summary 89.5 90.4

Urinary Function 93.7 94.1

Urinary Bother 86.3 87.5

Urinary Irritative 89.0 89.9

Urinary Incontinence 91.4 91.8

Bowel Summary 91.4 91.3

Bowel Function 91.6 92.5

Bowel Bother 91.2 89.8

Sexual Summary 41.5 34.2

Sexual Function 37.6 26.2*

Sexual Bother 50.2 53.2

Hormonal Summary 88.1 86.1

Hormonal Function 85.6 82.1

Hormonal Bother 90.2 89.4

Satisfaction 92.6 97.3

AUA Symptom Score 6.5 6.9

SF-12 PCS 50.1 50.9

SF-12 MCS 55.9 56.0 Source: Dobson | DaVanzo analysis of BOB Survey Data. *p<0.05

As shown in Exhibit 6, those who received only proton therapy had the lowest percentage

of total reported functional problems prior to treatment, relative to the groups who

received combined treatment. When comparing respondents who reported problems with

sexual, urinary, or bowel function prior to treatment, those who received hormone

therapy in addition to proton therapy had a lower hormonal and sexual HRQOL, while

those who also received photon therapy reported a lower sexual HRQOL (p<0.05) and a

lower “Hormone Bother” score (p<0.05) compared to respondents receiving only proton

therapy (Exhibit 7).



Exhibit 6. Proportion of Patients Reporting Problems with Sexual Function, Urinary Function, Bowel Function or

Other Problems Prior to Treatment by Treatment Modality

Sexual

Function Urinary

Function Bowel

Function Other

Problems Total

Treatment Modality n % n % n % n % n %

Only Receiving Proton Therapy (n=1487) 326 21.9% 390 26.2% 28 1.9% 25 1.7% 601 40.4%

Receiving Proton and Photon Therapy (n=186) 53 28.5% 45 24.2% 4 2.2% 1 0.5% 78 41.9%

Receiving Proton and Hormone Therapy (n=302) 96 31.8% 105 34.8% 3 1.0% 1 0.3% 160 53.0%

Source: Dobson | DaVanzo analysis of BOB Survey Data.

Exhibit 7. EPIC Scores Post-Treatment of Patients Reporting Problems with Sexual, Urinary,

Bowel, or Other Function Prior to Treatment by Treatment Modality

Proton Therapy Only (n=601)

Proton and Photon Therapy (n=78)

Proton and Hormone Therapy

(n=160) All Treatment

Modalities (n=779)

Urinary Summary 86.5 86.5 87.6 86.7

Urinary Function 92.1 92.3 92.6 92.2

Urinary Bother 82.5 82.4 83.9 82.9

Urinary Irritative 85.9 86.2 87.1 86.3

Urinary Incontinence 89.5 88.8 89.9 89.5

Bowel Summary 91.3 89.8 91.1 91.2

Bowel Function 91.8 90.1 91.8 91.8

Bowel Bother 90.8 89.4 90.5 90.7

Sexual Summary 47.6* 27.4* 34.5* 44.3

Sexual Function 43.9* 22.8* 31.1* 40.7

Sexual Bother 55.9* 38.4* 43.3* 52.8

Hormonal Summary 91.9* 88.1 86.9* 90.9

Hormonal Function 89.8* 86.7 84.5* 88.7

Hormonal Bother 93.8* 89.3* 88.8* 92.7

Satisfaction 93.3 89.3 93.5 93.1

AUA Symptom Score 7.5 7.9 7.3 7.5

SF-12 PCS 51.5 49.1 49.2 50.9

SF-12 MCS 55.3 56.3 55.7 55.5 Source: Dobson | DaVanzo analysis of BOB Survey Data. *p <0.05

Although respondents who received only proton therapy reported lower sexual problems

prior to treatment, Exhibit 8 shows that of those who did report sexual problems prior to

treatment, patients who received only proton therapy had the highest sexual EPIC scores

post-treatment compared to those who received other treatment modalities in addition to

proton therapy (p<0.05). Exhibit 9 and 10, show that of those who reported problems



with urinary and bowel function prior to treatment, respectively, treatment modality did

not have a substantial effect on post-treatment EPIC scores.

Exhibit 8. EPIC Summary Scores Post-Treatment of Patients Reporting Problems with Sexual

Function Prior to Treatment by Treatment Modality

Proton Therapy

Only (n=326)

Photon and Proton Therapy

(n=53)

Hormone and Proton Therapy

(n=96)

All Treatment Modalities

(n=441)

Sexual Summary 36.7* 25.8* 26.3* 34.2

Sexual Function 33.6* 20.8* 22.2* 30.8

Sexual Bother 43.5* 36.9* 35.9* 41.9 Source: Dobson | DaVanzo analysis of BOB Survey Data. *p<0.05

Exhibit 9. EPIC Summary Scores Post-Treatment of Patients Reporting Problems with Urinary


Proton Therapy Only

(n=390)

Proton and Photon Therapy

(n=45)


(n=105)


(n=503)



Urinary Bother 80.7 81.8 83.7 81.4


Urinary Incontinence 88.4 88.9 90.4 88.8 Source: Dobson | DaVanzo analysis of BOB Survey Data.

Exhibit 10. EPIC Summary Scores Post-Treatment of Patients Reporting Problems with Bowel


Proton Therapy Only

(n=29)

Photon and Proton Therapy

(n=4)


(n=3)


(n=26)

Bowel Summary 76.9 89.7 81.0 82.2

Bowel Function 80.7 90.2 83.3 82.0

Bowel Bother 73.0 89.3 78.6 78.6 Source: Dobson | DaVanzo analysis of BOB Survey Data.

In comparison, Exhibit 11 shows EPIC scores by treatment modality of respondents that

did not report problems prior to treatment. Patients receiving only proton therapy who did

not report problems prior to treatment had higher HRQOL scores in several areas,

compared to those also receiving other treatments (p<0.05). Proton only patients scored

higher in all sexual and hormone categories compared to respondents receiving photon

therapy and those receiving hormone therapy (p<0.05) among these patients.



Exhibit 11. EPIC Summary Scores Post-Treatment of Patients Not Reporting Problems with Sexual,

Urinary, Bowel, or Other Function Prior to Treatment by Treatment Modality

Proton Therapy

Only (n=898)

Proton and Photon Therapy

(n=103)

Proton and Hormone Therapy

(n=142)


(n=1092)



Urinary Bother 88.3 88.9 88.9 88.3


Urinary Incontinence 94.4 92.9 92.5 94.1

Bowel Summary 93.5 90.5 91.4 93.2

Bowel Function 93.6 90.8* 91.6 93.3

Bowel Bother 93.4 90.0 91.1 93.1

Sexual Summary 64.4* 42.7* 46.2* 61.3

Sexual Function 60.0* 36.9* 40.5* 56.7

Sexual Bother 74.0* 54.1* 58.2* 71.3

Hormonal Summary 94.2* 88.5* 88.7* 93.3

Hormonal Function 92.5* 85.6* 85.5* 91.4

Hormonal Bother 95.6* 91.0* 91.4* 94.9

Satisfaction 95.4 91.6 93.0 94.7

AUA Symptom Score 5.3 5.2 5.9 5.3

SF-12 PCS 53.2 50.6 51.5 52.8

SF-12 MCS 56.3 55.9 56.1 56.3 Source: Dobson | DaVanzo analysis of BOB Survey Data. *p <0.05

Exhibit 12a and 12b show EPIC scores by length of time since treatment. Overall, length

of time since the completion of treatment did not play a significant role in respondents’

HRQOL, except those who had just completed proton therapy (0 years since treatment)

had lower urinary (summary, bother and irritative) HRQOL scores (p<0.05). AUA

symptom scores (indicating worse urinary symptoms) were higher (symptoms were

worse) for this group (p<0.05), showing that a lower urinary HRQOL was associated

with worse urinary symptoms.

Respondents completing the survey one year following treatment had higher sexual

function and sexual bother HRQOL scores (p<0.05), while those six or more years

following the completion of proton therapy had lower sexual HRQOL scores (p<0.05),

urinary incontinence scores (p<0.05), and SF-12 PCS scores (indicating a lower physical

HRQOL) (p<0.05). These differences, however, are largely thought to be associated with

increased age as opposed to effects of the cancer therapy.



Exhibit 12a. EPIC Summary Scores by Length of Time since Treatment.

Years Since Proton Therapy

0 years (n=265)

1 year (n=352)

2 years (n=305)

3 years (n=236)

4 years (n=144)

5 years (n=138)

6 years+ (n=497)

Urinary Summary 87.3* 89.5 90.3 92.2 89.7 90.0 87.6*

Bowel Summary 93.8 91.1 92.3 93.1 92.1 93.0 92.0

Sexual Summary 56.7 61.2 58.8 54.9 55.5 54.7 42.0*

Hormonal Summary 91.1 91.8 93.3 93.9 94.0 92.6 91.1

Source: Dobson | DaVanzo analysis of BOB Survey Data. *p <0.05

Exhibit 12b. EPIC Summary and Subscale Scores by Length of Time since Treatment.

Years Since Proton Therapy

0 years (n=265)

1 year (n=143)

2 years (n=261)

3 years (n=385)

4 years (n=307)

5 years (n=76)

6 years + (n=308)

Urinary Summary 87.3* 89.5 90.3 92.2 89.7 90.0 87.6*

Urinary Function 93.1 94.3 94.8 96.3 94.5 94.4 92.2

Urinary Bother 83.0* 86.1 87.0 89.3 86.3 86.9 84.4

Urinary Irritative 85.2* 88.1 89.4 91.0 89.6 89.4 87.9

Urinary Incontinence 93.0 93.3 92.7 95.3 91.6 92.1 88.8*

Bowel Summary 93.8 91.1 92.3 93.1 92.1 93.0 92.0

Bowel Function 93.8 90.7 92.4 93.5 92.6 93.6 92.8

Bowel Bother 93.8 91.6 92.2 92.7 91.6 92.3 91.1

Sexual Summary 56.7 61.2 58.8 54.9 55.5 54.7 42.0*

Sexual Function 52.6 57.3* 55.1 51.4 50.4 50.2 37.6*

Sexual Bother 66.0 70.7* 67.1 63.2 65.7 64.9 52.1*

Hormonal Summary 91.1 91.8 93.3 93.9 94.0 92.6 91.1

Hormonal Function 88.5 89.8 91.4 92.0 92.4 90.8 89.2

Hormonal Bother 93.3 93.5 94.9 95.6 95.3 94.2 92.8

Satisfaction 94.4 94.1 94.2 94.8 93.8 94.3 92.8

AUA Symptom Score 7.9* 6.7 5.5 5.3 5.7 5.5 6.6

SF-12 PCS 52.9 53.0 53.1 52.6 52.6 52.5 49.7*

SF-12 MCS 55.7 55.5 56.0 56.3 56.2 56.5 55.9 Source: Dobson | DaVanzo analysis of BOB Survey Data. *p<0.05



Satisfaction with Proton Therapy As seen in Exhibits 13 and 14, patients were satisfied with their proton therapy

experience, both by time since treatment completion and by modality. A vast majority

(98.5 percent) of respondents rated their proton therapy experience as “Excellent” or

“Good,” while less than one percent of respondents rated their experience as “Poor.”

Satisfaction did not differ significantly by time elapsed since receiving treatment, or by

treatment modality, although those receiving only proton therapy were slightly more

likely to rate their proton therapy experience as “Excellent” rather than “Good” (Exhibit

14).

Exhibit 13. Overall, how would you rate your proton experience? (By Time Since Completion of Therapy)

Poor Fair Good Excellent Total

Years since proton therapy n % n % n % n % n

0 years 0 0.0% 3 1.2% 26 10.7% 215 88.1% 244

1 years 4 1.1% 3 0.9% 36 10.2% 309 87.8% 352

2 years 1 0.3% 4 1.3% 31 10.2% 268 88.2% 304

3 years 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 24 10.2% 211 89.8% 235

4 years 1 0.7% 3 2.0% 15 10.4% 125 86.8% 144

5 years 1 0.7% 1 0.7% 10 7.3% 125 91.2% 137

6 years + 5 1.0% 2 0.4% 53 10.7% 435 87.9% 495

Total 12 0.6% 16 0.8% 195 10.2% 1688 88.3% 1911 Source: Dobson | DaVanzo analysis of BOB Survey Data

Exhibit 14. Overall, how would you rate your proton experience? (By Treatment Modality)

Poor Fair Good Excellent Total

Treatment Modality n % n % n % n % n

Only Receiving Proton Therapy 10 0.7% 12 0.8% 141 9.5% 1322 89.0% 1485

Receiving Proton and Photon Therapy 1 0.5% 1 0.5% 27 14.8% 153 84.1% 143

Receiving Proton and Hormone Therapy 1 0.3% 2 0.7% 31 10.3% 266 88.7% 300


Approximately 99 percent of respondents stated that they believed they made the best

treatment decision for themselves, both by time since completion of therapy (Exhibit 15),

or by treatment modality (Exhibit 16). Additionally, 98 percent reported that they had

recommended proton therapy to others (Exhibits 17 and 18).



Exhibit 15. Do you feel you made the best treatment decision for yourself?

(By Time Since Completion of Therapy)

Yes No Total

Years since proton therapy n % n % n

0 years 244 100.0% 0 0.0% 244

1 years 345 99.1% 3 0.9% 348

2 years 301 99.3% 2 0.7% 303

3 years 233 99.6% 1 0.4% 234

4 years 138 96.5% 5 3.5% 143

5 years 133 97.1% 4 2.9% 137

6 years + 481 97.8% 11 2.2% 492

Total 1875 98.6% 26 1.4% 1901 Source: Dobson | DaVanzo analysis of BOB Survey Data

Exhibit 16. Do you feel you made the best treatment decision for yourself?

(By Treatment Modality)

Yes No Total

Treatment Modality n % n % n

Only Receiving Proton Therapy 1459 98.9% 16 1.1% 1475

Receiving Proton and Photon Therapy 172 96.1% 7 3.9% 179

Receiving Proton and Hormone Therapy 292 98.3% 5 1.7% 297 Source: Dobson | DaVanzo analysis of BOB Survey Data

Exhibit 17. Have you recommended proton therapy to others? (By Time Since Completion of

Therapy)

Yes No Total

Years since proton therapy n % n % n

0 years 234 95.1% 12 4.9% 246

1 years 340 96.9% 11 3.1% 351

2 years 298 97.7% 7 2.3% 305

3 years 230 99.1% 2 0.9% 232

4 years 142 98.6% 2 1.4% 144

5 years 136 99.3% 1 0.7% 137

6 years + 487 98.8% 6 1.2% 493

Total 1867 97.9% 41 2.1% 1908 Source: Dobson | DaVanzo analysis of BOB Survey Data



Exhibit 18. Have you recommended proton therapy to others? (By Treatment Modality)

Yes No Total

Treatment Modality n % n % n

Only Receiving Proton Therapy 1450 98.0% 30 2.0% 1480

Receiving Proton and Photon Therapy 177 98.9% 2 1.1% 179

Receiving Proton and Hormone Therapy 294 98.3% 5 1.7% 299 Source: Dobson | DaVanzo analysis of BOB Survey Data

Exhibit 19 shows that 81.5% of patients reported being “Extremely Satisfied” with their

treatment. Patients 5 years since therapy were less likely to report being “Extremely

Satisfied,” but were more likely to report being “Satisfied.” Exhibit 20 shows that proton

only patients were more likely to respond that they were “Extremely Satisfied” with their

treatment.

Exhibit 19. Overall, how satisfied are you with the treatment you received for your prostate cancer? (By Time

Since Completion of Treatment)

Extremely

Dissatisfied Dissatisfied Uncertain Satisfied

Extremely Satisfied

Total

Years since proton therapy n % n % n % n % n % n

0 years 2 0.8% 0 0.0% 11 4.3% 27 10.5% 216 84.4% 256

1 years 2 0.6% 1 0.3% 12 3.5% 47 13.6% 284 82.1% 346

2 years 2 0.7% 2 0.7% 7 2.4% 41 13.9% 244 82.4% 296

3 years 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 9 3.8% 31 13.2% 195 83.0% 235

4 years 1 0.7% 1 0.7% 4 2.8% 20 14.2% 115 81.6% 141

5 years 2 1.5% 0 0.0% 5 3.7% 13 9.6% 116 85.3% 136

6 years + 2 0.4% 6 1.2% 11 2.3% 92 18.9% 377 77.3% 488

Total 11 0.6% 10 0.5% 59 3.1% 271 14.3% 1547 81.5% 1898 Source: Dobson | DaVanzo analysis of BOB Survey Data

Exhibit 20. Overall, how satisfied are you with the treatment you received for your prostate cancer? (By

Treatment Modality)

Extremely

Dissatisfied Dissatisfied Uncertain Satisfied

Extremely Satisfied

Total

Treatment Modality n % n % n % n % n % n

Only Receiving Proton Therapy 8 0.5% 8 0.5% 33 2.3% 193 13.2% 1218 83.4% 1460

Receiving Proton and Photon Therapy 1 0.6% 1 0.6% 8 4.5% 44 24.6% 125 69.8% 179

Receiving Proton and Hormone Therapy 1 0.3% 1 0.3% 14 4.7% 45 15.2% 235 79.4% 296




Quality of Life

Ninety-one percent of patients reported that their quality of life was better (29.0 percent)

or the same (62.1 percent) today as it was before their treatment, while only nine percent

reported that their quality of life had declined (Exhibit 21).

This differed across treatment modalities with proton only therapy patients reporting the

best quality of life following treatment (92.6 percent reporting better or same). Eighteen

percent of respondents who received photon therapy in addition to proton therapy and

fourteen percent receiving hormone therapy in addition to proton therapy rated their QOL

as worse today than before treatment. In contrast, only seven percent of respondents

receiving only proton therapy reported their QOL as worse today than before treatment

(Exhibit 22). Additionally, those rating their quality of life as “Better Than” appeared to

decline substantially after five years post-treatment (Exhibit 21).

Exhibit 21. How would you describe your QOL today- better than, same as, or worse than

before the treatment? (By Time Since Completion of Treatment)

Better Than Same As Worse Than Total

Years since proton therapy n % n % n % n

0 years 67 28.2% 161 67.6% 10 4.2% 238

1 years 115 32.9% 204 58.3% 31 8.9% 350

2 years 90 29.6% 184 60.5% 30 9.9% 304

3 years 80 34.2% 138 59.0% 16 6.8% 234

4 years 44 30.6% 87 60.4% 13 9.0% 144

5 years 35 25.5% 91 66.4% 11 8.0% 137

6 years + 120 24.4% 315 64.0% 57 11.6% 492

Total 551 29.0% 1180 62.1% 168 8.8% 1899 Source: Dobson | DaVanzo analysis of BOB Survey Data

Exhibit 22. How would you describe your QOL today- better than, same as, or worse than before the treatment?

(By Treatment Modality)

Better Than Same As Worse Than Total

Treatment Modality n % n % n % n

Only Receiving Proton Therapy 433 29.4% 931 63.2% 109 7.4% 1473

Receiving Proton and Photon Therapy 45 24.9% 103 56.9% 33 18.2% 182

Receiving Proton and Hormone Therapy 94 31.3% 165 55.0% 41 13.7% 300 Source: Dobson | DaVanzo analysis of BOB Survey Data



Physical and Emotional Functioning

Few studies have empirically examined the prevalence of depression in men with prostate

cancer. However, anxiety about cancer as a diagnosis, lack of awareness of treatment

options, medical complications, fear of death, and financial burdens are some of the

factors that have been shown to lead to depression among prostate cancer patients.3 Men

with prostate cancer at risk for depression include those with advanced prostate cancer,

prominent pain symptoms, side effects of treatment and a previous history of clinical

depression.4 Depression has also been strongly correlated to fatigue and pain as

symptoms of prostate cancer.5

Based on survey data, over 93 percent of patients who were treated with proton therapy

reported that physical health or emotional problems did not interfere, or interfered little

with their social activities (Exhibit 23). Interference was less between two years and five

years post treatment, before declining in the six years or more post treatment category.

Exhibit 24 shows that 93.5 percent of patients receiving proton only treatment had little

or none of their time being affected by physical health or emotional problems, vs. 91.8

percent for proton plus photon therapy or 91.0 percent for proton plus hormonal therapy.

3 Pasquini M, Biondi M. (2007). Depression in cancer patients: a critical review. Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health 3: 21-30. 4 Cliff AM, McDonagh P. (2000). Psychosocial morbidity in prostate cancer II: a comparison of patients and partners. BJU Int 86: 834-839. 5 Heim HE, Oei TPS. (1993). Comparison of prostate cancer with and without pain. Pain 53: 159-162.


PROSTATE CANCER PATIENTS REPORT ON BENEFITS OF PROTON THERAPY FINAL REPORT 12.128 | 22 Dobson|Davanzo

Exhibit 23. During the PAST 4 WEEKS, how much of the time has your physical health or emotional problems interfered with your social activities

(like visiting with friends, etc.)? (By Time Since Completion of Treatment)

All of the Time

Most of the Time

Some of the Time

A Little of the Time

None of the Time

Total

Years since proton therapy n % n % n % n % n % n

0 years 5 2.0% 1 0.4% 11 4.4% 31 12.3% 204 81.0% 252

1 years 4 1.1% 2 0.6% 23 6.5% 28 8.0% 295 83.8% 352

2 years 4 1.3% 4 1.3% 6 2.0% 28 9.2% 263 86.2% 305

3 years 1 0.4% 1 0.4% 12 5.1% 27 11.5% 193 82.5% 234

4 years 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 6 4.2% 11 7.6% 127 88.2% 144

5 years 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 6 4.4% 16 11.7% 115 83.9% 137

6 years + 6 1.2% 7 1.4% 37 7.5% 50 10.1% 396 79.8% 496

Total 20 1.0% 15 0.8% 101 5.3% 191 9.9% 1593 83.0% 1920 Source: Dobson | DaVanzo analysis of BOB Survey Data

Exhibit 24. During the PAST 4 WEEKS, how much of the time has your physical health or emotional problems interfered with your social activities

(like visiting with friends, etc.)? (By Treatment Modality)

All of the Time

Most of the Time

Some of the Time

A Little of the Time

None of the Time

Total

Treatment Modality n % n % n % n % n % n

Only Receiving Proton Therapy 15 1.0% 11 0.7% 71 4.8% 142 9.6% 1244 83.9% 1483

Receiving Proton and Photon Therapy 2 1.1% 2 1.1% 11 6.0% 20 11.0% 147 80.8% 182

Receiving Proton and Hormone Therapy 4 1.3% 2 0.7% 21 7.0% 37 12.3% 237 78.7% 301 Source: Dobson | DaVanzo analysis of BOB Survey Data


Between the years 1991 to 2010, approximately 10,000 patients were treated for prostate

cancer with proton therapy across the 10 currently operating proton centers in the United

States. This study captures close to 20 percent of this population across all centers, with

patients having varying ages, clinical conditions, time elapsed since treatment, etc.

Proton therapy is unique in that it targets specific tissues, and minimizes damage to

healthy tissues, thus minimizing side effects. This differs from other treatments such as

photon beam radiation, which often causes negative side effects that affect a patient’s

quality of life post- treatment.

Our results substantiate this anecdotal information, as we found that patients receiving

proton therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer were extremely satisfied with their

treatment, and reported similar quality of life post-treatment to healthy individuals who

have not been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

In comparison to patients receiving other treatments in addition to proton therapy

(hormone or photon therapy), proton only therapy patients reported that urinary, sexual,

and bowel problems interfered less with their life through reporting higher HRQOL EPIC

scores in these areas compared to individuals receiving other forms of treatment.

Discussion

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