The news of cancer is devastating to patients, their family members, and friends. Sadly, many families in the United States and across the world know how such a diagnosis progresses, even if they haven’t had a close family member suffer from cancer, the narrative is firmly entrenched in society. Most expect some type of radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy. However, cancer research continues to make leaps and bounds in terms of progress — depending on their situation, a patient might choose to opt for a non-invasive cancer treatment if other methods have not been working. A cancer treatment center will often specialize in cutting edge advances and technology. One such type of treatment is proton radiation therapy, which can be used as a head and neck cancer treatment, as well as lung, liver, and prostate cancer treatment. Many choose proton radiation therapy if they can for its numerous benefits, as compared to regular radiation treatment.
How Does Proton Radiation Therapy Work?
Proton therapy radiation stops at a particular point in the tissue that it’s targeting with radiation. Standard radiation keeps going past the tumor. For breast cancer, this type of treatment could mean that no radiation reaches the heart and the amount of radiation that reaches the lungs is halved, as compared with standard radiation. Compared to X-rays, proton therapy reduces the radiation that reaches gastrointestinal structures by almost 60%.
The machine (a synchrotron or cyclotron) will get the protons to speed up, a sign of their high energy. Depending on how the level of energy, protons will travel to a specific depth in the body. Once they reach that spot, the radiation is delivered to the tumor, but no further, reducing further damage to other healthy tissue and organs of the body.
What’s Their Success Rate Look Like?
According to research, 99% of men who had proton therapy with low-risk prostate cancer had no signs of a relapse after five years; 94% of men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer, and 74% of men with high-risk prostate cancer. An added bonus: prostate cancer patients who use this type of treatment have a much reduced risk of impotence. Around 94% of men said they stayed sexually active after they received treatment.
Currently, over 31,000 people have used proton therapy in the United States and over 64,000 have received treatment all across the world. In early 2015, there were over 30 particle therapy centers and 80 treatment rooms were being built globally. According to RNCOS, a marketing research firm, their report “US Proton Therapy Outlook 2017” predicts that the United States will house almost 27 proton therapy centers (almost twice the number from previous years); these centers will bring in over $1 billion.
What Should Patients Be Ready For?
Treatment usually takes 15 to 45 minutes for one session, though the protons reach the tumor within a minute or two. Proton therapy is done in an outpatient setting most often, so patients don’t have to go into the hospital. Depending on what kind of cancer and how advanced it is, patients will have a varying number of treatment sessions. For example, if the patient receives proton therapy in one to five treatments, this is often called stereotactic body radiotherapy. If the patient just gets one large dose, this is known as radiosurgery.
During the treatment, the patient will be immobilized while the treatment is underway, fixed in a position that was pre-planned during the planning session. You should be prepared to stay extremely still during the treatment.
Sessions may differ in length of time, as well, depending on what angles the doctor is pinpointing during that session. The procedure is painless, though there might be some side effects, though your oncology team will likely discuss these with you beforehand. Also be sure to talk with your insurance to see if your treatment will be covered.
If proton radiation therapy is an option for you, it’s not a bad idea to look into it as you and your doctor discuss treatment methods. This type of treatment offers less risk to your surrounding tissues and organs, which can often affect cancer patients even after their cancer is gone. Read this website for more information.