Proton therapy also called proton beam therapy is a type of radiation therapy.It uses protons rather than x rays to treat cancer

A proton is a positively charged particle.At high energy protons can destroy cancer cells.Like x-ray radiation , proton therapy is a type of external beam radiation therapy.It painlessly delivers radiation through skin from a machine outside the body

HOW PROTON THERAPY WORKS

A machine called synchroton or cyclotron speeds up protons.The high speed of the protons creates high energy.This energy makes the protons travel to the desired depth in the body.The protons then give the targeted radiation dose in the tumor

CANCERS TREATED WITH PROTON THERAPY

It is useful for treating tumors that have not spread and are near important parts of body

Proton therapy also may be used to treat these cancers

• Central nervous system cancers including chordoma,chordosarcoma and malignant meningeoma
• Eye cancer including uveal melanoma or choroidal melanoma
• Head and neck cancers including nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancers and nasopharyngeal cancers
• Lung cancer
• Liver cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Spinal and pelvic sarcomas
• Non cancerous brain tumors

SIDE EFFECTS

The treatment itself is painless.Afterwards you  may experience fatigue.You may also have skin problems including redness,irritation,swelling ,dryness,or blistering and peeling.The side effects of the proton therapy depend on the part of the body being treated ,the size of the tuor and the types of healthy tissue near the tumor

RISKS AND BENEFITS

Compare with x-ray radiation therapy proton therapy has several benefits.

• Usually upto 60% less radiation can be delivered to the healthy tissues around the tumor.This lowers the risk of radiation damage to these tissues
• It may allow for a higher radiation dose to the tumor.This increases the chances that all of these tumor cells targeted by the proton therapy will be destroyed
• It may cause fewer and less severe side effects such as low blood counts, fatigue and nausea during and after treatment

But there are also some drawbacks to proton therapy

• Because proton therapy requires highly specialized and costly equipments.It is available at just a few medical centers.
• Cost is high compared to x ray radiation therapy
• Not all cancers can be treated with proton therapy

For getting opinion from our network of hospitals visit mvtbooking.com or  to query@gtsmeditour.com.

Prepared by Dr Sajna Hamza