What are the advantages of proton therapy?

The key point of proton therapy is superior dose distribution, allowing physicians to precisely aim the highest dose at the tumor and avoid healthy tissues. Consequently, it shows many advantages over x-ray therapy.

Proton therapy:

  • Targets tumors and cancer cells with precision and minimal exit dose
  •  Reduces overall toxicity
  • Reduces the probability and/or severity of short- and long-term side effects on surrounding healthy tissues and organs (e.g. reduces likelihood of secondary tumors caused by treatment)
  • Precisely delivers an optimal radiation dose to the tumor
  •  Can be used to treat recurrent tumors, even in patients who have already received radiation
  • Improves quality of life during and after treatment
  • Increases the long-term, progression-free survival rates for certain types of tumors

Proton therapy is especially appropriate for cancers with limited treatment options and those where conventional x-ray radiotherapy presents an unacceptable risk to the patient, e.g. eye or brain tumors, tumors close to the brain stem or spinal cord, etc.

Proton therapy is also very much indicated for the treatment of pediatric tumors. As a child’s growth implies a constant high rate of mitosis, his cells will be as vulnerable to ionizing particles as proliferating cancerous ones. It is therefore crucial to aim the beams only at the tumor to avoid damage such as growth abnormalities, cognitive impairments, radiation induced tumors, cardiac damage, and other complications later in life.

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