Proton therapy is the most precise and advanced form of radiation treatment today. It primarily radiates the tumor site, leaving surrounding healthy tissue and organs intact. Conventional x-ray radiation often radiates healthy tissue in its path and surrounding the tumor site. Chemotherapy moves throughout the entire body, unlike radiation and surgery, which are considered "site specific" treatments.
Due to their relatively large mass, protons have little lateral side scatter in the tissue; the beam does not broaden much, stays on the tumor shape and delivers only low dose side effects to surrounding tissue. All protons of a given energy have a certain range; very few protons penetrate beyond that distance. Furthermore, the dose delivered to tissue is maximum just over the last few millimeters of the particle's range; this maximum is called the Bragg peak. (Bragg Peak,the path followed by ionizing particles used in a radiation treatment. Because certain particles reach a peak of potential near the end of their path, the Bragg curve can be used to direct the radiation to deep-seated tumors while significantly sparing normal overlying tissues).
To understand the benefits of this new cancer treatment, it is important to understand how traditional radiation therapy works. A patient who undergoes conventional radiation therapy is exposed to X-rays. As they pass through both healthy and diseased tissue, X-rays leave a track of damage - much like a bullet. This damage can help destroy tumors, but may cause significant harm to surrounding areas. Protons, on the other hand, are more precisely targeted than X-rays. Protons also cause less damage to healthy tissue as they enter the body, and deposit the majority of their destructive energy at the tumor site. Once this energy has been deposited at the tumor site, there is no additional damage to the healthy tissue behind the tumor as there is no exit dose. This phenomenon is called the Bragg peak. As a result, normal, healthy tissue receives less exposure to radiation, resulting in fewer treatment complications. Fewer treatment complications enable our physicians to deliver higher doses of radiation to the tumor. This increased dose improves a patient's probability of a successful outcome.
PROTON THERAPY FACT SHEET
Most precise form of radiation treatment available today. Destroys primary tumor site, leaves surrounding healthy tissue and organs intact and unharmed.
Is non-invasive and painless. Maintains a patient's quality-of life during treatment process as an out-patient. Patients continue with normal activities during treatment. Play golf, tennis, swim, walk, run, workout in a gym, or go on a "radiation vacation."
Avoids the usual side effects of standard x-ray radiation. Minimum to no side effects with protons. Highly effective treatment for wide range of localized tumors in head and neck area, lung, prostate, bladder, spinal cord, gastro malignancies, and ocular tumors, among others. Working on treating breast cancer with small protocols utilizing a new scanning technique. Women with breast cancer can avoid damage to lungs and surrounding breast tissue.
Protons can be used in conjunction with other cancer treatment modalities such as chemotherapy.
Treatment time can take from one day for certain conditions or up to eight weeks (prostate cancer) depending on tumor sites.
Highly preferred radiation treatment modality option for pediatric cases because children are susceptible to injury from standard x-ray radiation as their tissues and organs are growing rapidly. Children don't have to be subjected to needless exposure from damaging radiation.
As of mid-2008, nearly 20,000 patients treated in U.S. First hospital-based proton center opened in 1990 at Loma Linda University Medical Center. Operating proton centers can treat 150-200 patients daily.
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