Rural Access to Proton Therapy for Prostate Cancer: 2025 Trends

Rural Access to Proton Therapy for Prostate Cancer: 2025 Trends When my uncle in North Carolina was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year, our first question wasn’t “What’s the best treatment?” It was “Where can he even get it?” That’s a question too many rural families still have to ask in 2025. Proton therapy is gaining momentum as a highly targeted treatment for prostate cancer, offering fewer side effects and improved outcomes. But while its benefits are widely acknowledged, a serious equity issue persists—many rural patients still struggle to access this cutting-edge technology. Why? Because proton therapy centers tend to be located in large cities, affiliated with academic hospitals or research hubs. For rural men diagnosed with prostate cancer, the distance between hope and healing is often measured in hours of travel, not miles of progress. 📌 Table of Contents 🚜 The Geographic Divide: Why Rural Patients Struggle 🏥 New Proton Therapy Centers o...