Proton Therapy for Cancer Treatment
Thanks to scientific advancements, there are several options for fighting cancer today. Some common treatments include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, and bone marrow transplant. Yet, more medical breakthroughs often lead to innovative forms of treating the disease.
Proton therapy for cancer treatment has gained prevalence in the last three decades. Like other clinical operations, the treatment has its benefits, risks, and side effects. Read on what the basics of proton therapy are and how it affects your body.
What is Proton Therapy?
Proton therapy treatment uses a form of radiation to treat cancer cells. Using a medical machine, patients receive controlled doses of radiation through the skin. These proton beams destroy cancer cells and even minor tumors with harmful effects. Note that this high-powered energy only targets the damaging parts. As it preserves healthy organs and tissues, there are minimal known side effects.
Which Cancers and Tumors Can Proton Therapy Treat?
Many cancers are treatable through proton therapy sessions. Here are the types of cancers and tumors that benefit from proton beam treatment:
- Eye cancers such as uveal tract melanoma and choroidal metastasis
- Head and neck cancers
- Esophageal cancer
- Breast cancer
- Lung cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Pituitary gland tumors
- Liver cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Central nervous system cancers such as medulloblastoma, primitive neuroectodermal tumors (Pnets), and oligodendroglioma
- Spinal and pelvic sarcomas
- Nonmalignant brain tumors
Types of Treatment Delivery
There are two ways to receive proton therapy for cancer treatment. One is through stereotactic body radiotherapy. Another is through stereotactic radiosurgery. Here are the key differences between them:
Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT)
With this delivery, you receive charged proton particles through several sessions. This method is ideal if you’ve already undergone radiation therapy.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Compared to the SBRT, this system entails that receive your treatment only once. As you only take a single dose, you will have to take a large amount of radiation.
Every proton therapy treatment has 1 to 5 doses. If you’re unsure about the delivery method, ask your doctor for advice. They can help you decide which one is better for your cancer type and body.
The Treatment Process
If you decide to go with proton therapy, you must know what to expect. As it is non-invasive, the treatment is a painless procedure. The number of sessions you have depends on your chosen delivery method; you could go to the hospital daily or only once.
When you lie down on the treatment table, medical specialists will place restraints on you because remaining in the same position allows for smoother scanning. A rotating machine called the gantry will then deliver the doses of radiation to affected areas of your body. Along with the procedure, you will also undergo CT scans to evaluate your cancer, dosage, and body.
What Are the Side Effects of Proton Therapy?
After a proton treatment session, your body may feel several side effects. Fatigue is common, stemming from the elimination of cancer cells in your body. You may experience physical, mental, and emotional tiredness, so it’s best to get some rest. Another side effect is the presence of skin problems. The areas that received radiation could appear red, irritated, blistered, or swollen. Depending on the body parts radiated, you may also have hair loss, low blood count, and soreness.
Rise to Prominence
Specialists from the Berkeley Radiation Laboratory pioneered the medical applications of the treatment. They initially applied proton therapy to help patients with metastatic breast cancer. The program’s success led to advanced research and increased usage across the country. In 1991, the therapy’s prominence led to the first dedicated clinic in California.
Recent years prove that proton radiation is still a sought-out treatment for cancer. According to a survey, patients of the therapy grew in numbers from 2012 to 2016. If you need a proton treatment, there are currently 28 active proton centers in the country.
Ask Your Medical Center
Cancer treatments affect everyone in different ways. Some may work well for others, and some not so much. If you consider proton therapy, it could be what works for you. As a non-invasive procedure, it is more convenient than other procedures. It also works in conjunction with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and x-ray radiation. If you or your loved one have questions about the treatment, don’t hesitate to consult your doctor. Contact your local medical center and ask about the therapy today.
