I am commenting on the proposal to discontinue reimbursement by Medicare for Proton Radiation Therapy. [PHI Redacted] had Proton Therapy for prostate cancer and the reason [PHI Redacted] selected Proton over all the other options was because of quality of life concerns. [PHI Redacted] experience is that [PHI Redacted] had zero issues related to sexual, urinary or intestinal or any other function during or since treatment.

I know other men who have had other treatments surgery and radiation seed implants, who have had significant and progressively worsening issues since their treatments.

Not only is their quality of life deteriorating, but their medical costs continue to mount as they try to correct or lessen the symptoms of their problems.

I believe it would be a mistake by Medicare to discontinue Proton treatment reimbursement because of the initial cost of the treatment. You need to include the after treatment costs of the other methods surgery, regular radiation and seed implants, as well as the potential deprivation of quality of life benefits for Proton patients. In addition, continuing improvements in Proton methods is bringing the costs down and the future costs will be much more competitive.